Olga Kovalkova

Olga Kovalkova also known as Volha Kavalkova[1] (Belarusian: Вольга Аляксандраўна Кавалькова, romanized: Voĺha Aliaksandraŭna Kavaĺkova, Russian: Ольга Александровна Ковалькова; born 26 January 1984 in Minsk, Belarus) is a Belarusian activist and a member of the presidium of the Coordination Council of Belarus that was formed by the presidential candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to transition the political power in Belarus in the aftermath the 2020 Belarusian protests and the disputed 2020 Belarusian presidential election.[2]

In this Eastern Slavic name, the patronymic is Olga and the family name is Kovalkova.
Olga Kovalkova
Вольга Кавалькова
Ольга Ковалькова
Born (1984-01-26) 26 January 1984
Minsk, Byelorussian SSR, Soviet Union (now Belarus)
NationalityBelarusian
OccupationLawyer
Known foractivist, dissident
Political partyBelarusian Christian Democracy

Career

Political activity
Press conference with Kovalkova

Belarusian Christian Democracy co-chair

In November 2019, Kovalkova announced her intention to run for President of Belarus at the next election. She said, "The authorities should see that there are more people who want change than those who are on the other side of the system. The opposition should have a task to unite people in a united tangible front for the authorities know that there are people who can dictate their conditions."[3]

Post-election protests

In August 2020, Kovalkova joined the presidium of the Coordination Council which coordinates the transition of political power from president Alexander Lukashenko, who claims to have won the 2020 Belarusian presidential election. Kovalkova served as the representative of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya during the formation of the council.[4]

On 20 August 2020, Alexander Konyuk, the Prosecutor-General of Belarus, initiated criminal proceedings against the members of the Coordination Council under Article 361 of the Belarusian Criminal Code on the grounds of attempting to seize state power and harming national security.[5][6]

On 24 August 2020, Kovalkova and fellow presidium member, Sergei Dylevsky, were detained by the security services whilst attempting to support striking workers at the Minsk Tractor Works factory.[7][8][9] Kovalkova was sentenced to 10 days imprisonment the following day.[10][11][12][13]

On 5 September 2020, Kovalkova had to leave for Warsaw, Poland, after her release from prison. She reported that authorities warned her of further arrests if she did not leave the country.[14] Kovalkov was forcibly exiled by authorities from Belarus.[15]

References
  1. "Pressure on Volha Kavalkova increases". Афіцыйны сайт Беларускай Хрысціянскай Дэмакратыі (БХД). Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  2. "Unknown persons try to get into Nobel laureate's flat. She is also Coordination Council member". belsat.eu. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  3. "Election 2020: Meet Four Women Ready To Rival President Lukashenko". BelarusFeed. 2019-11-26.
  4. Reuters. "Belarus opposition sets up council". The Guam Daily Post. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  5. "МАЯ КРАІНА БЕЛАРУСЬ". Telegram.
  6. "Belarus Opens Criminal Probe Against Oppositions Coordination Council- Prosecutor General". UrduPoint.
  7. "Belarus holds opposition figures after mass rally". BBC News. 2020-08-24. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  8. "Belarus detains two members of opposition council". The Straits Times. Reuters. 2020-08-24. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  9. Reuters (2020-08-24). "Belarus Detains Two Members of Opposition Council". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  10. https://pledgetimes.com/member-of-the-council-of-opposition-of-belarus-dylevsky-was-arrested-for-ten-days/
  11. "Belarus jails second opposition member for 10 days | The Star". www.thestar.com.my.
  12. "Belarus jails two opposition leaders; teachers head rally of thousands". August 26, 2020 – via www.reuters.com.
  13. "Subscribe to The Australian | Newspaper home delivery, website, iPad, iPhone & Android apps". www.theaustralian.com.au.
  14. "Belarusian opposition activist Kovalkova leaves country after arrest". September 5, 2020 – via www.reuters.com.
  15. Sebastian Shukla, Sarah Dean and Darya Tarasova. "Belarusian activist forcibly removed from country by security services". CNN. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
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