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Belarus Authorities Allegedly Issued Death Threats Against Opposition
Activist

VOA News

   A prominent Belarusian opposition activist has accused authorities of
   threatening to kill her has they tried to forcibly deport her to
   Ukraine amid government efforts to end five weeks of mass protests
   against President Alexander Lukashenko following a disputed election.
   Maria Kolesnikova said in a complaint filed by her lawyer Thursday that
   she resisted her expulsion as authorities tore up her passport, put a
   bag over her head and drove her to the border with Ukraine before she
   fought her removal from Belarus and was jailed.
   "In particular, it was stated that if I did not voluntarily leave the
   Republic of Belarus, I would be taken out anyway, alive or in bits,"
   Kolesnikova said. "There were also threats to imprison me for up to 25
   years."
   Kolesnikova also said authorities threatened she would have problems
   while under detention. "The persons indicated uttered threats to my
   life and health, which I took to be real," she said.
   Kolesnikova's lawyer, Lyudmila Kazak, submitted a criminal complaint to
   the state Investigative Committee against Belarusian authorities,
   including the KGB police, for kidnapping, illegal detention and threats
   to commit murder, according to the news portal Tut.By.
   U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday the United States is
   deeply concerned about the Belarusian government's attempts to forcibly
   expel Kolesnikova.
   Pompeo also said the U.S. and other countries are considering bringing
   sanctions in response to recent events in Belarus to seek
   "accountability for those involved in human rights abuses and
   repression in Belarus."
   Kolesnikova, who has been in a Minsk jail since Monday, has been
   accused of undermining national security as part of a criminal
   investigation against leaders of the Coordination Council, which was
   formed last month to negotiate a transition of power after Lukashenko
   won a sixth term in office.
   Lukashenko has said council members and other activists are under the
   control of Western nations and accused them of trying to create a
   parallel government.

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