Amnesty International Condemns Crackdown on Belarusian Women Activists

Amnesty International has released a damning report detailing the systematic persecution of politically active women in Belarus. The report highlights a pattern of intimidation, including arrests, fines, and imprisonment, affecting hundreds of women, from human rights defenders to journalists. One particularly striking case is that of Maria Kolesnikova, a prominent opposition leader who was abducted, forced to flee the country, and subsequently sentenced to 11 years in prison. The report quotes Amnesty International's condemnation of this "planned campaign of intimidation." The organization calls for an immediate end to the repression and the unconditional release of all those unjustly imprisoned. This systematic targeting of women activists underscores a broader pattern of human rights violations in Belarus, raising serious concerns about the state of political freedom and the rule of law in the country.