Maria Kolesnikova detained by masked men (Details)

 Maria Kolesnikova detained by masked men (Details).

Unidentified men in black wearing masks have reportedly grabbed Belarusian opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova off the street on Monday, driving her away in a minibus.

Kolesnikova is a campaign partner of opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who claimed victory against President Alexander Lukashenko in the August 9 presidential election. Protesters have disputed the election results, with tens of thousands marching against the president since the vote. Kolesnikova is a vocal critic of Lukashenko and has played a vital role during the weeks of demonstrations.

Witnesses say Kolesnikova was seized in central Minsk and bundled into a bus labelled "Communications." Her phone was also apparently switched off.

The Coordination Council said Kolesnikova had been "kidnapped by unknown people in central Minsk," along with a spokesman and executive secretary. 

"Their whereabouts are unknown," it said, accusing Lukashenko's regime of "openly using methods of terror."  

The Coordination Council has demanded the immediate release of the detainees and the return of other activists who were pressured into leaving Belarus.

Local journalist Hanna Liubakova wrote on Twitter that her Coordination Council colleague Anton Radniankou could also not be reached.

Speaking with Russia's Interfax news agency, Minsk police denied that they had detained Kolesnikova.

Kolesnikova announced the creation of a new opposition party, Together, last week. Some of her fellow anti-Lukashenko activists have condemned the move, calling it a distraction.

Tikhanovskaya pledges more protests

In a statement, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, Lukashenko's main rival, said the kidnappings were an attempt to interfere with the work of the Coordination Council. 

"The more they try to scare us, the more people will take to the streets," Tikhanovskaya said in a statement.