The leader of the demonstrations protesting the election results in Belarus said security forces detained her earlier this week in an attempt to forcibly deport her to Ukraine, putting a bag over her head and telling her she would be deported “alive or in bits,” Reuters reports.
In a court complaint filed Tuesday, Maria Kolesnikova listed by name and rank the security officials from the KGB (the State Security Committee of Belarus) whom she charged with kidnapping, illegal detention and threats to commit murder.
“In particular it was stated that if I did not voluntarily leave the Republic of Belarus, I would be taken out anyway, alive or in bits. There were also threats to imprison me for up to 25 years,” Kolesnikova said in the filing.
Tens of thousands of Belarusians have taken to the streets in mass protests after President Alexander Lukashenko declared himself the winner of last month’s election, claiming 80% of the vote. Lukashenko has threatened, jailed and expelled various political opponents before the election, and witnesses have documented widespread election fraud before and during the vote.