‘Tearing up my passport was the right decision’: Belarusian oppositionist Maria Kolesnikova talks to Dozhd ahead of trial in Minsk

The trial of Belarusian opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova (Maryia Kalesnikava) began in Minsk on Wednesday, August 4. Along with opposition lawyer Maxim Znak, she stands accused of calling for actions that threatened the national security of Belarus. The exact content of the charges remains unknown and the trial is taking place behind closed doors. Before the start of the hearing on Wednesday, Maria Kolesnikova danced inside the courtroom cage and made a heart sign with her hands - one of the symbols of the opposition movement. The independent Russian television network Dozhd interviewed Kolesnikova ahead of her trial. Here's what she said, in brief. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/04/tearing-up-my-passport-was-the-right-decision