Maria Kalesnikava, 41, is a Belarusian professional flautist and political activist. In 2020, she headed Viktor Babariko’s electoral campaign during presidential elections of 2020 in Belarus. Kalesnikava represented the united campaign of Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, then she became a member of the presidium of the Coordination Council formed during the 2020 Belarusian protests in opposition to the regime of Alexander Lukashenko. She is also a founder of the ‘Razam’ political party.

Kolesnikova was kidnapped by unidentified law enforcement officers on September 7, 2020. Early in the morning of September 8, 2020, she was by force taken to the Ukraine country border. Kolesnikova was intimidated and pressured to leave the country, but while being on neutral ground she got off the car from the rear window, tore her local passport to pieces and went back on foot. On Belarusian territory she was arrested immediately. On the next day, Maxim Znak, Kolesnikova’s attorney, was also detained.

On 11 September 2020, Amnesty International recognized Kalesnikava as a prisoner of conscience. She was awarded the International Women of Courage Award in 2021.

On 6 September 2021, Kalesnikava was sentenced to 11 years in a penal colony for her political activity.