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Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Head of the United Transitional Cabinet, spoke about her first in more than five and a half years personal meeting with Maria Kalesnikava. It took place during the recording of the New Year’s address.
According to the democratic leader, it was fundamentally important for her to record the address together.
“Masha came to the filming of the New Year’s address, and for me it was personally very important to record it together. We saw each other alone for the first time in five and a half years. Masha is still the same energetic and inspiring person — nothing has broken her inner world. I am very happy that we had time to be together,” she said.
“We talked about the past, the present and the future. We talked about political prisoners. Masha went through the horrors of prison — and she is determined to fight for the release of everyone else. I also asked her whether she had already played the flute after her release. Masha admitted she was worried about it, because she has not yet picked up her favourite instrument. I told her that I really hope to attend her solo concert one day, maybe in Germany, but even better — in Belarus. Thank you, Masha, for your smile, for your work and your inspiration! We all missed you!” she added.
In January 2022, Maria Kalesnikava was sentenced to 11 years in a penal colony, accused of attempting to seize power, making public calls aimed at harming national security, and creating an extremist formation. In November 2022, she underwent surgery in hospital. Since February 2023, Kalesnikava had been held incommunicado. In November 2024, she was allowed to meet her father.
Kalesnikava was among 123 political prisoners released on 13 December 2025.