Maria Aleksandrovna Kalesnikava

Maria, a member of the Coordination Council Presidium and head of Viktor Babaryka's headquarters, was kidnapped on September 7, 2020, and taken to the Belarusian-Ukrainian border for deportation. She tore up her passport and refused to leave the country. On September 9, she was detained and taken into custody.

In September 2021, she was convicted of "conspiracy to seize power through unconstitutional means," "calls for action against national security," and "creation of an extremist group."

In November 2022, Maria underwent surgery for a perforated ulcer and peritonitis. Since March 2023, she has been in the penal colony. Due to health issues, she was unable to work; she was even accompanied to formations.

Maria was held incommunicado for a long time. In the summer of 2024, it became known that the administration had isolated her from other prisoners, with guards constantly present. On November 12, 2024, she saw her father for the first time in 18 months.

The meeting took place in the prison hospital, and it's unclear whether she was undergoing treatment or brought there from the PKT. Prior to this, there had been no communication from Maria, and information about her condition was only available from other inmates.

Following this meeting, she was again cut off from communication with the outside world and continues to be held incommunicado.

In February 2025, her sister reported that Maria had been returned to the unit and expressed hope that contact would be restored.

On December 13, 2025, she was released after another visit to Minsk by US President Donald Trump's special representative, Keith Kellogg, and taken to Ukraine.