Shaheen, Durbin, Tillis Introduce Bipartisan Resolution to Recognize Political Repression in Belarus
**Next month marks the two-year anniversary of the fraudulent president election**
(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, joined Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) in introducing a bipartisan resolution recognizing the second anniversary of the stolen 2020 Belarus presidential election, the historic peaceful protests and the continued heroic efforts of the Belarusian people. President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has ruled as an undemocratic dictator since the first presidential election in Belarus in 1994.
“Next month marks the two-year anniversary since the fraudulent presidential election in Belarus that continued Lukashenka’s dictatorial rule and resulted in thousands of political dissidents and activists being arrested,” said Shaheen. “I’m proud to lead a bipartisan resolution with Senator Durbin rejecting that election as undemocratic and calling for new elections to be held. Belarus deserves a government that reflects the will of the people, free from political intimidation and the dismantling of democratic institutions that have become the norm under Lukashenka’s regime. The U.S. Senate stands in solidarity with the many brave Belarusians, including Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, striving for a free and democratic Belarus.”
The resolution was also cosponsored by Marco Rubio (R-FL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Ed Markey (D-MA) and Ben Cardin (D-MD).
Shaheen leads efforts in support of pro-democracy movements, and has spearheaded action to combat Russian aggression. Last year, Shaheen launched the bipartisan Free Belarus Caucus with Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) following the Senators’ meeting with Belarusian opposition leader, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Last June, Senator Shaheen led a bipartisan delegation to Eastern Europe, which included stops in Ukraine as well as Lithuania, where she met with Ms. Tsikhanouskaya to discuss the Lukashenka regime’s increasing human rights abuses against political opposition. Shaheen previously questioned Tsikhanouskaya during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on U.S. policy in Belarus. Last year, Senator Shaheen penned an op-ed in USA Today on why the West must come together to address the political situation in Belarus. In February, Shaheen joined a congressional delegation visit to Poland to discuss Russian aggression against Ukraine and met with U.S. Special Envoy for Belarus, Ambassador Julie Fisher, and members from the Belarusian pro-democracy movement. Shaheen recently led a congressional delegation visit to the NATO Summit in Madrid with Senator Tillis (R-NC) after previously stopping in Finland and Sweden to meet with heads of state and partake in other important bilateral meetings.
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