Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) was a guest speaker today at an event marking the second anniversary of the crackdown in Belarus. Freedom House sponsored the event in the Cannon House Office Building, in partnership with National Endowment for Democracy, Human Rights House Network and the International Federation for Human Rightsand in cooperation with the U.S. Helsinki Commission. Smith is chairman of the Helsinki Commission and author of the Belarus Democracy and Human Rights Act, enacted in 2011:

    I’d like to thank Freedom House and its partner organizations for hosting this important event marking the two-year anniversary one of the worst political crackdowns Europe has seen in a long time.  Two years ago, the Lukashenka regime responded to peaceful protests against electoral fraud with savage mass beatings and large-scale detentions, abuses and torture.

    The crackdown on human rights activists and independent journalists left no doubt whatsoever as to Lukashenka’s contempt for his people as well as the principles of democracy and human rights.  They confirmed the nature of a dictatorship that perpetuates a pervasive climate of fear designed to squelch dissent.  Indeed, Lukashenka showed what he thinks of his people just a few months ago with elections, if one could call them elections, which yet again were an insult to the concept of democracy.

    While some of those unjustly imprisoned in the crackdown have been released, Ales Bialetski, whose wife, Natalia Pinchuk, is here with us today, remains unjustly imprisoned for his courageous and determined human rights work. Other political prisoners continue to suffer mistreatment as they languish in prisons and labor camps.  And pressure on civil society, human rights defenders and on the independent media has not relented.  Yet committed and resilient individuals, such as our speakers here today, continue to call attention on behalf of human rights and human dignity.   I welcome and salute you and the organizations you lead in your fight for a brighter future for the Belarusian people.

    In the face of continued repression, it is vital that the United States government remain committed in supporting human rights defenders and civil society.  We need to continue to hold Lukashenka and his henchmen accountable for their reprehensible treatment of the remaining political prisoners and of all those who defend human rights and struggle for their country’s freedom.  Indeed, that is the reason why I authored the Belarus Democracy and Human Rights Act, which was signed into law last January.  Like its predecessors, the Belarus Democracy Acts of 2004 and 2006,  which I also authored, it states a U.S. government policy of strong support for the Belarusian people in their struggle against the dictatorship, aspiring to live in a free and independent country where their human rights are respected.

    Under Lukashenka, Belarus remains a throwback to a darker time in European history. Nevertheless, with people such as our speakers and those they defend who refuse to succumb to oppression, I remain confident that the bright light of freedom will one day shine upon the Belarusian people. And I assure you that that the people of the United States will continue to support them in their quest for human dignity.

    For more information about the event, click here to read the Freedom House website announcement.