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Belarus' Kolesnikova receives Charlemagne Prize in Germany

Saim Dušan Inayatullah AFP, DPA, EPD, German media
March 14, 2026

Belarusian opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova was awarded the Aachen-based prize in 2022 in absentia. She has now collected it after having been released from prison in December.

https://p.dw.com/p/5AP9a
Aachen mayor Michael Ziemons, Maria Kolesnkikova's sister Tatsiana Khomich, Belarusian opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova wearing Charlemagne Prize, and CDU lawmaker Armin Laschet on stage in Aachen city hall
Kolesnikova was physically handed the Charlemagne Prize nearly four years after being awarded it in absentiaImage: Thomas Banneyer/dpa/picture alliance

Belarusian opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova was personally handed the Charlemagne Prize on Saturday after having been awarded it in absentia in May 2022.

The ceremony was held in the western city of Aachen in North Rhine-Westphalia state.

The Charlemagne Prize recognizes people who have worked to advance European unity.

Kolesnikova was awarded with the prize alongside fellow opposition figures Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Veronika Tsepkalo for their struggle for democratic rights, free elections and the respect of human dignity in Belarus.

She could not attend the 2022 ceremony as she had been arrested two years earlier as part of Minsk's crackdown on a wave of opposition protests.

She was released in mid-December 2025, following international pressure and a US-brokered deal with Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko.

Kolesnikova wearing Charlemagne Prize at Aachen city hall
Kolesnikova gave a speech in German at Aachen city hallImage: Thomas Banneyer/dpa/picture alliance

Kolesnikova flees to Germany after release

German authorities have granted Kolesnikova political asylum, and she now resides in Berlin.

Kolesnikova had already lived in Germany for 13 years before her arrest.

The ceremony on Saturday was also attended by Kolesnikova's sister, Tatsiana Khomich.

Kolesnikova has called for European politicians to engage in dialogue with Lukashenko, saying the European Union has significant leverage over Minsk.

Edited by: Roshni Majumdar