Markey, Wicker, Shaheen Lead Bipartisan Launch of Free Belarus Caucus

Bipartisan faction pushes for democracy in Belarus ahead of the first anniversary of the fraudulent presidential election

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) And Jeanne Shaheen (DN.H.) announced the formation of the Free Belarus Caucus today, which will for democracy and free and fair elections in the former Soviet republic, which was shaken by increasing political violence and repression after decades of rule by the current President Alexander Lukashenka. Wicker and Shaheen will serve as co-chairs of the caucus, to which US Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Thom Tillis (RN.C.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska .), Lindsey Graham (RS.C.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), all of whom have joined as founding members.

“I am proud to join the bipartisan Free Belarus Caucus to show without question that we are standing by the Belarusian people in the fight for their fundamental rights,” said Senator Markey. “I condemn the human rights violations of the Lukashenka regime in the strongest possible terms. While the Belarusian government is depriving its own people of freedom of speech and fundamental rights, the United States Senate will continue efforts to hold the government accountable for its abuses while calling for the restoration of peace and stability in Belarus. “

“The Belarusian people deserve a functioning democracy that protects basic human rights,” said Senator Wicker. “I am delighted to be launching the Free Belarus Caucus with Senator Shaheen. I hope this sends a strong message that the US Senate stands with the Belarusian people in their struggle for freedom and free and fair new elections. ”

“I am proud to work with Senator Wicker and this bipartisan group of lawmakers to establish the Belarusian Free Caucus and to make it clear to the international community that the United States supports the Belarusian people in their determination to build a democratic future,” said Senator Shaheen. “Our bipartisan mission sends a strong message to Lukashenka that the United States is watching and will continue to respond to his repressive, dictatorial actions targeting the pro-democracy movement, independent media, and free and fair elections. I am honored to have had the opportunity to meet and work with Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to support her vision of democracy in Belarus, which the Senate supports today through the creation of this bipartisan faction. ”

“For decades, the US Congress has demonstrated its full support for the aspirations of Belarusians to live in a democratic, sovereign and independent country, crisis in Belarus, but also to prepare for the future when Belarus joins the family of democratic nations” said Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

“I will never forget to travel to Minsk in January 2011 to meet with the families of opposition candidates who were jailed by Lukashenka for having the boldness of running against him in the mock presidential election just a month earlier,” said Senator Durbin. “And now history has repeated itself again, with the notable difference that the Belarusian people have had enough. That the last dictator in Europe continues to deprive his people of the basic freedoms enjoyed by the rest of Europe is a tragedy that must be condemned. This bipartisan Senate assembly shows that the United States Senate continues to stand with the brave people of Belarus in their hopes for a more democratic country. “

“For too long, the repressive regime of President Lukashenka has prevented Belarus from giving its citizens a voice and holding free and fair elections,” said Senator Tillis. “I am proud to join the Free Belarus Caucus and continue to work for a democratic Belarus.”

“The Belarusian people deserve to exercise their democratic rights without fear,” said Senator Kaine. “We must hold President Lukashenka and his regime accountable for their increasing repression and support Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s vision of democracy in Belarus. I am proud that, together with my colleagues, I have set up the first bipartisan Senate Free Belarus Caucus to stand up for the rights and freedoms of the Belarusian people and to condemn the unacceptable human rights violations by the illegitimate Lukashenka regime. “

“I am honored to join my Senate colleagues in launching this bipartisan initiative to show the people of Belarus that the US Senate is united with them in their relentless struggle for a democratic future,” said Senator Sullivan. “I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Belarus Free Caucus to continue to support Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the associated efforts in Congress to support a free and democratic Belarus.”

Among other initiatives, the Belarusian Free Caucus will:

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  Press for democracy in Belarus, including free and fair elections;
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  Fight for free media and protection for journalists; and
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  Support neighboring countries like Lithuania and Poland in their efforts to help the people of Belarus.

The opening of the caucus follows last month’s meeting of the senators with Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. It also comes before the first anniversary of a fraudulent presidential election that President Lukashenka put in for a sixth term amid mass demonstrations and increasing state-sponsored violence against journalists, civil society groups and protesters. After the election results were announced, his opponent Tsikhanouskaya had to flee to neighboring Lithuania, a member of NATO, for her safety.

Since Lukashenka took power, criminalization of the media has resulted in the arrest and detention of journalists, the raid of independent media offices, and the detention and abuse of civil society groups and protesters. There are more than 570 political prisoners in Belarus and the situation is getting worse every day.

Lukashenka escalated the conflict in May when he forced the diversion and landing of Ryanair flight 4978, which was flying over Belarusian airspace so that Belarusian authorities could arrest 26-year-old activist Raman Pratasevich, an outspoken critic of Lukashenka. The act of piracy and transnational repression showed that the Lukashenka regime poses a threat not only to the Belarusian population, but also to regional partners.

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