On Tuesday, February 3^rd, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC) and author of the landmark Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 and multiple reauthorizations, will chair his eighth congressional hearing focused exclusively on the human rights crisis in Belarus.

             Since 2020, the government of Belarus—a dictatorship led by Alexander Lukashenko for more than 30 years—has been engaged in an ongoing crackdown on democratic opposition. Yet, even as this repression has continued, Belarusian authorities have—since 2025—released 123 political prisoners in connection with diplomatic engagement led by the Trump administration. Despite these developments, more than 1,100 political prisoners remain incarcerated, and the Belarusian democracy movement continues to operate largely in exile.

WHAT: Congressional hearing on the dire human rights situation in Belarus, the U.S. government’s efforts to promote and advance democracy and fundamental human rights in the country, and recommendations for congressional action.

WHEN: Tuesday, February 3^rd, 2026 from 2:30 to 4:30 PM

WITNESSES: (Partial list)

• Sergey Tihanovski, Former Political Prisoner
• Dzianis Kuchynski, Head of International Affairs Department and Diplomatic Advisor to the President-elect of Belarus, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
• Vytis Jurkonis, Director of Freedom House in Lithuania
• Jasmine D. Cameron, International Human Rights Lawyer, Visiting Scholar at American University Washington College of Law

WHERE: 2255 Rayburn House Office Building; livestreaming on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/live/ZrNNuYFTEJE?si=lHRnqrMNnzxgfsak

WHO: Co-Chairs of the TLHRC, other members of the Commission, and witnesses

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