Supporting People of Belarus and Their Democratic Aspirations and Condemning Election Rigging and Subsequent Violent Crackdowns on Peaceful Protesters

Floor Speech

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Mr. KEATING. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, my friend, Gregory Meeks of New York, for yielding and for his leadership on this issue.

I also thank the ranking member, my friend and colleague, Michael McCaul of Texas, for his support and leadership. I also thank the longtime leader of this cause, Representative Chris Smith, for his support. I thank them both for their bipartisan support.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 124.

Today marks just over 8 months since an openly fraudulent presidential election took place in Belarus. In that time, Belarusians have made it clear by marching in the street en masse, with a pronounced leadership of brave women, that they want and need democracy in Belarus.

Despite the peaceful nature of these events, protestors have been beaten and arrested, and opposition leaders have either been forced out of the country, like Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya; or jailed, like Maria Kalesnikava.

This resolution, inspired by the courage of those taking to the streets to defend democracy, makes it clear to the people of Belarus and to the international community that the United States House of Representatives has reviewed the facts and determined that the 2020 Belarus presidential election was neither free nor fair, and that Alyaksandr Lukashenka cannot and must not be recognized as Belarus's legitimate president.

The resolution also strongly condemns the heinous human rights violations that have been committed by Belarusian authorities and underlines that Belarus is a sovereign nation, whose people have the right to self-determination.

As chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Energy, the Environment and Cyber, I held a hearing in March, where we heard firsthand from presidential candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya about the unprecedented violence and verbal, physical, emotional, and sexual assault of peaceful protestors. In their fight for democracy, the Belarusian people have endured unprecedented repression and many protestors have been left severely wounded, and at least eight have been murdered by this reprehensible regime.

Madam Speaker, this resolution is a vital signal of support for the democratic movement in Belarus, that their sacrifice will not be forgotten, and their calls for recognition will not go unanswered.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to pass this resolution and send a clear message that the United States is paying close attention to the human rights situation in Belarus and will continue to support the people of Belarus in their fight for a new, free, and fair election.

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