07.21.21

Durbin, Senators Welcome Belarusian Opposition Leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya To Senate

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) to welcome Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to the U.S. Senate this afternoon to meet with a bipartisan group of lawmakers. The lawmakers were also joined by U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Julie Fisher – the United States Ambassador to Belarus – for the discussion, where they highlighted U.S. support for Belarus and heard Tsikhanouskaya’s determination to build a free and democratic future in her country.

“The ‘Last Dictator of Europe’ will not have the last say in the future of the Belarusian people. Today, a bipartisan group of lawmakers welcomed Belarusian Opposition Leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to the Senate. We discussed the Lukashenko regime’s shameful human rights record, rejection of the choice of the Belarusian voter, and recent crackdown on journalists, including at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. This is a critical moment in Belarus’ history and the United States stands with Tsikhanouskaya and the people of Belarus as they seek to build a democratic future,” said Durbin. 

Photos of today’s meeting are available here.

Last year, Durbin and Shaheen unanimously passed a Senate resolution (S. 658) condemning the arrest of opposition candidates and calling for a fair and legitimate August 2020 election.  In January 2011, Durbin traveled to Belarus after the stolen December 2010 election, during which time he met with the families of the jailed opposition candidates. 

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