Dear Members of Congress, The Belarusian-American community writes first of all to thank you for your unwavering support for democracy in Belarus and your support of Ukraine as it fights to eject revanchist Russia from Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders. We recognize that victory by Ukraine is essential to weaken Russia’s ability to threaten regional security, including through Russia’s influence over Belarus. Conversely, support for an independent, democratic Belarus supports Ukraine in its fight by causing the Lukashenka dictatorship to fear for its stability and question its support for Russian aggression and domination.

On behalf of Belarusian Americans, we, the Belarus Freedom Forum, express our admiration and congratulate the Polish American Congress on its remarkable achievement of 80 years of leadership and active work in support of the Polish American community and for the freedom, democracy, and national interests of Poland. In 80 years, Poland has transformed into a free, sovereign, democratic, prosperous, and dynamically developing country. Today, Poland is a member of the European Union and NATO, no doubt with the contribution of the Polish American Congress.

The Belarus Freedom Forum honors the Day of Ukraine’s Independence and congratulates the worldwide Ukrainian community. We call on the United States to define a clear vision of complete victory for Ukraine - return to the 1991 borders and reparations from Russia, with no additional conditions imposed by Russia. We call for the removal of limitations on the use of American weapons on military targets within Russia’s territory. Streamline and expand the military aid and supplies to Ukraine, listen to the Ukrainian government, and provide every kind of material and logistics Ukraine needs to bring an end to Russian aggression.

Join us in solidarity with those fighting for freedom, democracy, and dignity. On August 9, the Belarusian American community marked the fourth anniversary of the 2020 peaceful mass protests in support of democracy and freedom and against the fraudulent presidential election in Belarus. For the Belarusian Americans, this day is the day of dignity and sorrow. We are proud that in 2020, Belarusians stood up against the dictator, who had been usurping power for 26 years. But so far, we have not won the battle against the dictatorship. Many Belarusians lost their freedom and their lives in this battle.

On May 9, the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University hosted a panel discussion on the gradual annexation of Belarus by Russia, featuring Representative for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Head of United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus Valery Kavaleuski, former U.S. Ambassador to Belarus George Krol, Tufts University Associate Professor of Political Science Oxana Shevel, U.S. Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary for Eastern Europe and Policy and Regional Affairs Christopher Smith, and moderated by former U.S. Department of State Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried.

On April 10, 2024, the court of the Tsentralny district of Minsk added Belarus Freedom Forum’s Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts to the list of extremist materials. If you intend to visit Belarus, be safe and make sure that your devices don’t contain subscriptions, likes, or comments that might link you to our online resources. In the aftermath of this unjust decision, Belarus Freedom Forum remains committed to its mission.

On February 25, Belarus held fraudulent parliamentary elections aimed to falsely project Aliaksandr Lukashenka’s legitimacy to audiences both inside Belarus and on the global stage. The elections happened amidst mass political repression, curtailment of all human rights, and Russia’s gradual subversion of Belarusian sovereignty.

We urge all Belarusian Americans and allies: please contact your Senators and Representatives and ask that they co-sponsor S.3395 - Belarus Democracy, Human Rights, and Sovereignty Act of 2023 and H.R.8329 - Belarus Democracy, Human Rights, and Sovereignty Act of 2024. This bill reauthorizes the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004, recognizes the war crimes and human rights violations perpetrated by the illegitimate Lukashenka regime, and expands the support of the aspirations of the people of Belarus for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law by the U.S. government.

Belarus Freedom Forum urges the U.S. Congress to pass the supplemental funding for Ukraine. The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine is a broad and imminent threat to global security and the safety and prosperity of Americans. If this invasion is allowed to succeed, it will undoubtedly invite more acts of aggression by Russia, China, Iran, and other authoritarian regimes against the U.S. and its allies and partners around the world. An increase in armed conflicts will increase food insecurity, create more refugees, raise fuel prices, and disrupt supply chains. Providing aid to Ukraine now is the most cost-effective way to mitigate this risk.

Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) sent a letter (PDF) to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Department of State Secretary Antony Blinken urging the Biden administration to designate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Belarus. TPS provides protection to foreign nationals in the United States whose home countries are experiencing temporary and extraordinary conditions, including armed conflict and natural disasters, among other circumstances that make a return home unsafe. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is a cosigner of the letter in the Senate.