Kaptur, Keating, Wilson, Smith Introduce Legislation Formalizing US-Belarus Strategic Dialogue

Toledo, OH — This week, the bipartisan Co-Chairs of the House Belarus Caucus, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Congressman Bill Keating (MA-09), Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02), and Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) introduced legislation to formalize an annual US-Belarus Strategic Dialogue to continue US engagement with the Belarusian democratic opposition, strengthen Belarusian civil society, and ensure accountability for the regime of Alyaksandr Lukashenka. This bill comes at a critical moment as the people of Belarus continue to resist the regime even as it remains complicit in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and continues to persecute the people Lukashenka purports to represent.

“Today, we are introducing legislation that will formalize a platform for dialogue between the United States and the Belarusian democratic opposition to promote the restoration of democracy in Belarus and support the release of political prisoners held by the Lukashenka regime,” said the Co-Chairs. “The Lukashenka regime continues to silence the voice of the Belarusian people and commit gross human rights abuses. We must stand with the democratic opposition and demand the regime be held accountable for its actions. This legislation sends a clear message that the United States stands firmly with the people of Belarus in their struggle against authoritarian rule, and we will continue to support their pursuit of a free, democratic future.”

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