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On the morning of Wednesday, September 8, a graffiti mural depicting imprisoned Belarusian opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova appeared in a St. Petersburg park. The portrait, which showed Kolesnikova making a heart shape with her hands – one of the symbols of the Belarusian opposition – was accompanied by the words “For our freedom and yours”. Utility workers painted over the mural within a matter of hours. On Monday, September 6, Kolesnikova was handed an 11-year prison sentence on charges of calling for actions that threaten the national security of Belarus, conspiring to seize power illegally, and creating an extremist group. Lawyer Maxim Znak, another prominent member of the Belarusian opposition who was tried alongside Kolesnikova, was sentenced to 10 years behind bars. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)
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