US Senate Passes Bipartisan Resolution In Support Of Democracy In Belarus

The unanimous passage of the resolution is a strong signal of willingness to hold Lukashenka accountable.

Senators unanimously passed the bipartisan Shaheen-Wicker resolution reaffirming the United States' support for the Belarusian democracy movement, reports Radio Svaboda.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen - Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation - and US Senator Roger Wicker made statements following their bipartisan resolution reaffirming US support for the Belarusian democratic movement. The Senate passed the resolution unanimously.

The document calls for free and fair elections, reaffirms the bipartisan support in the Senate for the democratic movement, free media and the Belarusian people and condemns the acts of transnational repression of Lukashenka. The resolution was also co-authored by US Senators Ben Cardin, Ron Johnson, Richard Durbin, Rob Portman, Chris Murphy, Tim Kaine, Chris Van Hollen, Thom Tillis, Ed Markey, Marco Rubio and Bill Hagerty.

"The unanimous support in the Senate for our bipartisan resolution gives Lukashenka a resounding message from the United States: we are watching and this atrocity will have consequences," Shaheen said.

They also noted that "the gross violations of human rights by Lukashenka, which include the imprisonment of more than 1,000 political prisoners, cannot go without a reaction from the United States and the world community. His dangerous deployment of hybrid warfare and encouragement of Putin's escalation of violence and aggression undermine our global stability and the national security of our allies and partners. Lukashenka must be held accountable, and the U.S. and our allies must be prepared for that."

Wicker confirmed that "the United States Senate stands for freedom in Belarus."

"We will continue to send a message to Lukashenka, his associates and his patron Vladimir Putin that their repressive regime is harmful to a free Europe. The Senate will continue to work to promote free and fair elections, free press, and a better future for Belarus."

Shaheen and Wicker are co-chairs of the "Free Belarus Caucus" in the US Senate, which they themselves created in August 2021. The caucus includes a bipartisan group of seven other senators with the aim of advocating for democracy and free and fair elections in Belarus.

Last month, Shaheen and Wicker, with a bipartisan group of senators led by Shaheen, addressed Ukraine, reiterating US support for pro-democracy aspirations and supporting the defence of Ukrainian sovereignty against Russian aggression.