Kalesnikava Becomes Kissinger Program Fellow at McCain Institute in Arizona
The Kissinger Fellowship program is designed to support figures in foreign policy and national security.
Maria Kalesnikava, one of the leaders of the 2020 protests and a former political prisoner, has become a Kissinger Fellowship program fellow at the McCain Institute at Arizona State University for the 2026-2027 academic year. This was announced by the McCain Institute, Reform.news writes.
The Kissinger Fellowship program is designed to support leading figures in foreign policy and national security. Over the course of the year, Kalesnikava will work on issues related to Belarus and transatlantic policy.
As part of the program, Kalesnikava intends to advocate for Belarus to occupy a more prominent place on the political agenda of the United States and Europe. She also plans to prepare the first comprehensive concept of transatlantic cooperation on Belarus, based on a series of interviews with politicians and experts. The work will be conducted in Berlin, where Kalesnikava is currently located, as well as in Washington.
Evelyn Farkas, Executive Director of the McCain Institute, stated that Kalesnikava "combines the strategic thinking of Henry Kissinger with the courage of John McCain in the face of adversity and dedication to public service."
"Maria Kalesnikava's optimism and her leadership in strategic engagement, despite the suffering she endured due to Lukashenka's regime, are inspiring. It is a great honor for us to support her timely work on this important topic," said Farkas.
Kalesnikava herself emphasized that the United States and Europe must coordinate both pressure on the regime and engagement with Belarus.
"The United States and Europe must coordinate pressure and engagement to protect Belarus and Belarusians from the autocratic influence of today's Russia. By acting together now, we gain the opportunity to shape a vision of freedom and democratic values for a new generation of Belarusians," she stated.
The McCain Institute also reminded that the John McCain Freedom for Political Prisoners Initiative, created to support political prisoners worldwide, previously advocated for Maria Kalesnikava's release and included her case among the first to be considered under the program.
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