“Dear Chairman Kean,
Ranking Member Keating,
Honorable members of the Subcommittee,
Let me express gratitude to the US Congress and the American people for many years of support for the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people.
I am confident that Belarus will become a truly independent, free country, a reliable partner, and a member of the European Union and Transatlantic Community.
To achieve this goal, we must dismantle the illegitimate regime of dictator Alexander Lukashenka, who, with Russia’s help and under its control, has usurped power.
In 2020, Belarusians made a clear choice in favor of democracy, freedom, and human rights. However, the dictator refused to step down, and drowned the nation in terror.
60 thousand were detained. Hundreds of thousands had to flee. Thousands of political prisoners were taken hostage, including Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Ales Bialiatski, my colleague Maria Kalesnikava, presidential hopeful Viktar Babaryka, activist Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk, journalist Ihar Losik and my husband Siarhei Tsikhanouski, sentenced to 19 years.
My children did not see their daddy for 3.5 years. Since March, I have not heard anything from him, and I don’t know if he is alive.
People in prisons are tortured and kept incommunicado. More than 100 hundred are in critical condition and might not survive. The release of political prisoners is a matter of urgency.
Lukashenka’s regime became a threat to the entire Europe. It hijacked the Ryanair flight to kidnap a dissident journalist. It continues sending illegal migrants to the border with Lithuania, Poland and Latvia. It dragged our country into Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. And continues to support the war with weapons, infrastructure, training, airspace, and land. Dictator participated in the abduction of Ukrainian children from the occupied territories.
For Putin’s support, Lukashenka pays with our sovereignty. Russia is taking control of the Belarusian economy, national security, foreign affairs and media.
There is an ongoing Russian attack on Belarusian culture, language and national identity. Russia expands its military presence in Belarus. Recently it deployed nuclear weapons on our land.
We support Ukraine’s just war for its survival. Because the fates of our country are intertwined. We fight against the same evil and for the same values. Without free Belarus, there will be no free Ukraine. And vice versa.
We understand that changes in Belarus are our responsibility, but we can’t do it alone. We need US support.
We applaud the US State Department unprecedented decision to launch Strategic Dialogue with Belarusian democratic forces.
We call on the US to support our efforts to preserve independence and restore democracy in our nation. The appointment of a US Special Envoy should help build a coalition for independent democratic Belarus.
We ask to recognize agreements signed by the dictator with Russia as void. And impose new sanctions against Russia for its illegal attempts to subjugate Belarus.
Belarus should not become a consolation prize to Russia. Free Belarus would be the strongest sanction against Putin and will help Ukraine win the war.
Therefore, supporting free Belarus is not a charity. It’s your investment in the global peace and security.
We call on you to support Belarusians fighting for freedom and democracy, independent media, and families of the repressed.
Support those who live in exile and can’t return home. I call on the US Congress to support the Temporary Protected Status for Belarusian nationals in the US.
Belarusians abroad are denied renewing their passports. In response, we prepare to issue a new Belarusian national passport, and we ask the Congress to endorse this project.
We should increase pressure on the regime. Sanctions are not a silver bullet. But it is a way to weaken the regime, release people from prisons, and stop its involvement in the war.
We must end impunity! Let’s bring Lukashenka and his cronies to account through international courts. The regime has a long record of crimes, including crimes against humanity, torture, killings, and abduction of Ukrainian children.
All dictatorships fall, and Lukashenka’s dictatorship will fall too. When you discuss an economic recovery plan for Ukraine and Moldova, please include Belarus.
Finally, I call on the US Congress to support the newest edition of the Belarus Democracy, Sovereignty, and Human Rights Act. It will show US leadership and commitment to the values we all stand for.
Dear friends,
The path to freedom and democracy may be long and difficult. But this path is the only right one. Let’s walk this path together.
Thank you for your attention”.
