Kaptur, Keating, Meeks, Fitzpatrick Lead Largest Transatlantic Letter In Recent History Demanding Illegitimate Belarusian Leader Lukashenko Immediately Release Opposition Leader Marya Kalesnikava, All Political Prisoners

Press Release

Today, U.S. Representatives Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Bill Keating (D-MA), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) joined by 270 transatlantic legislators from 29 countries in a letter to the illegitimate President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko demanding the immediate release of Belarusian opposition leader Marya Kalesnikava and that all charges against her be dropped. The legislators are also calling for the immediate release of Coordination Council members Maksim Znak, Illya Saley, and all other political prisoners, including Vitali Shkliarov, a dual citizen of the United States and Belarus and husband of a U.S. diplomat, who has been unjustly imprisoned for two months.

Transatlantic signatories represent constituencies in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

"As transatlantic legislators strongly committed to preserving and strengthening liberty, democracy, and human rights in Europe, we write with deep concern regarding the Lukashenko regime's unjust detention of opposition leader Marya Kalesnikava and her colleagues," the legislators wrote. "We demand that all charges against her be dropped, and that she be immediately released along with fellow Coordination Council members Maksim Znak, Illya Saley, and all other political prisoners."

The legislators continued, "The international community has condemned Belarus' August 9 presidential election as illegitimate. Reacting to the disputed results, the Belarusian people took to the streets demanding dignity, liberty, and a new election that reflects the will of the people."

"We are monitoring the situation in Belarus and the regime's actions closely, and are fully committed to using our legislative powers to advocate and act to support the Belarusian people," the legislators continued. "We strongly support carefully targeted sanctions against human rights offenders in and outside of Belarus, in coordination with transatlantic allies and international partners.

"We thank our transatlantic colleagues for joining us on this historic initiative to support the Belarusian people's right to choose their own future," said Representatives Kaptur, Meeks, Keating, and Fitzpatrick in a joint statement. "Transatlantic solidarity is the bedrock for liberty. We look forward toward to continuing our collaboration to preserve and expand democracy in Europe, and globally."

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