Some time after Maria's meeting with her father, pro-government Telegram channels published a photo, which was probably taken without the knowledge of the Kolesnikovs.

The photo showing Aleksandar Kalesnikov holding the hand of his smiling daughter caused a strong reaction on social networks.

Internet users admired the strength of Maria, who, being in difficult conditions, holds herself with dignity and at the same time inspires others.

Svoboda collected some reactions to the photo of Maria Kalesnikova, who has been behind bars since September 7, 2020:

Democratic leader of Belarus

: "Our dear Masha, how glad we are to see your smile!

Thanks to the doctors who saved Maria."

Director

: "Never break Maria!

this is what courage looks like!'

Hlybock local historian

: "Unbreakable".

Orthodox activist

: "Masha is alive and happy - she saw her father!"

Conductor of the Concordia Choir

: "The warmest photo... Hold on, Masha and please live...".

Right -back

: "Having seen the photo of Maria Kalesnikova laughing in her situation, I can only say that Masha = Ukrainian defense forces, today you can cause damage, you cannot implement your imperfect plan.

And you can't win either.

I admire this incredible woman."

Velianter

: "Friends, here is the first photo of Masha Kolesnikova, our sunshine."

Journalist

"What unhappy, sullen hawks are always on the footage from the Palace."

And how Maria Kalesnikova shines even in the colony.

That's what inner faith does to a person."

Other social media users tweet:

On November 30, Svaboda sources reported that Maria Kalesnikova was brought to the intensive care unit of the Gomel hospital in critical condition.

Earlier, Svaboda reported that she was guarded by three security guards at the emergency hospital, one of them was armed with a machine gun.

For prisoner patients admitted to the Gomel emergency hospital, located in the very center of Gomel near the city park, the surgery has a special ward with bars and a place for escorts.

In September 2020, the coordinator of Viktor Babarika's staff, member of the Coordination Council, Maria Kalesnikova, was captured by the security forces and tried to forcibly take her to Ukraine.

At the border, she tore up her passport, climbed out of the car window and returned to the territory of Belarus, where she was immediately detained.

Kolesnikova was tried in camera together with lawyer Maksim Znak.

She was found guilty under three articles of the Criminal Code and sentenced to 11 years in prison on September 6, 2021.

What you need to know about the verdict of Maria Kolesnikova and Maxim Znak

The verdict was handed down on September 6, 2021, to poly-convicts Maria Kolesnikova and Maksim Znak.

Former members of Viktor Babarika's election headquarters and members of the Presidium of the Coordination Council were tried together behind closed doors.

The sentence was 11 years in the Kolesnikova colony and 10 years for Znak.

Judge Siarhei Yepikhov.

They were found guilty under three articles of the Criminal Code:

• conspiracy to seize power;

• calls for actions aimed at harming national security;

• creating an extremist formation or leading it.

Maxim Znak and Maria Kalesnikova in court on September 6, 2021

The process took 17 sessions. None of the political prisoners admitted their guilt.

Maria Kalesnikova and Maksim Znak joined Viktar Babarika's election headquarters in May 2020 - almost immediately after he announced his decision to participate in the election campaign.

Both of them became the faces of the campaign along with Babaryk himself - they appeared at the procedure for submitting documents for the registration of the initiative group to the Central Committee, submitted there the signatures collected by Babaryk for nomination, actively commented on the progress of the campaign and the plans of the headquarters after the arrest of Babaryk himself.

After the creation of the joint headquarters, both Maksim Znak and Maria Kalesnikova continued their active activities in Svetlana Tikhanovskaya's election campaign.

After the establishment of the Coordination Council, Znak and Kolesnikov joined its presidium.