Chair Cardin Urges State Department to Help Secure Release of Political Prisoners in Belarus

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging his immediate intervention on behalf of political prisoners in Belarus and commending Secretary Blinken for his ongoing efforts to secure the release of political prisoners during his tenure in the Biden-Harris administration. The letter highlights the cases of Maksim Znak, Siarhei Tsikhanouski, Viktar Babaryka, Mikalai Statkevich, Maryia Kalesnikava, Ihar Losik - who have been held incommunicado for more than one year; 31 political prisoners whose health is in peril and who require urgent humanitarian release; as well the cases of Nobel Peace laureate Ales Bialiatski and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist Andrey Kuznechky.

"Holding prisoners incommunicado is a grievous action that deprives detainees of the protection of the law, correspondence, and visits from family, attorneys and doctors," wrote Chair Cardin. "The goal is clearly to break their will and deter them and others from social and political activities."

"I urge you to advocate on behalf of these prisoners in Belarus whom the Lukashenka regime seeks to obscure through their detention, silencing and denial of care," continued Chair Cardin.

Full text of the letter can be found below.

Dear Secretary Blinken:

I am writing to ask for your personal intervention on behalf of political prisoners in Belarus, including six who are being held incommunicado and 31 whose urgent humanitarian parole is critical because of their dire health conditions.

Holding prisoners incommunicado is a grievous action that deprives detainees of the protection of the law, correspondence, and visits from family, attorneys and doctors.

The goal is clearly to break their will and deter them and others from social and political activities.

We are currently aware of the following persons held incommunicado in Belarus. None of them has any communication with the outside for more than one year.

MAKSIM ZNAK, a lawyer and member of the Presidium of the Coordination Council, was detained on September 9, 2020 and later sentenced to 10 years in prison. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has recognized his detention as unlawful.

SIARHEI TSIKHANOUSKI, a blogger and the husband of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, was detained on May 29, 2020 to thwart his presidential campaign and sentenced to 19½ years in prison.

VIKTAR BABARYKA, a banker and presidential candidate was detained on June 18, 2020 and sentenced to 14 years in prison.

MIKALAI STATKEVICH, an opposition politician was detained on May 31, 2020 and sentenced to 14 years in prison.

MARYIA KALESNIKAVA, a political activist, member of the Coordination Council Presidium, and head of Viktar Babaryka's campaign team, was detained on September 7, 2020 and sentenced to 11 years in prison.

IHAR LOSIK, a journalist for RFE/RL's Belarus Service, and a former RFE/RL Vaclav Havel Journalism Fellow, was detained on June 25, 2020 and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Additionally, I appeal to you to urgently engage on behalf of 31 political prisoners whose health is in extreme peril.The list, which will be conveyed separately to protect the prisoners from reprisals, is based on verified information provided by leading human rights organizations.

These 31 political detainees are part of a larger list of 239 political prisoners that have urgent humanitarian needs. Amongst the 31 are individuals who have severe diseases, such as blood leukemia, Hodgkin's lymphoma, stroke, heart disease, blindness, perforated ulcer, epilepsy (in case of a minor), and many other serious health issues that require urgent medical help. The conditions in which political prisoners are kept in Belarusian prisons are extremely difficult and are constantly deteriorating, particularly in the winter months. This includes placement in solitary confinement in isolation cells, punishment cells, as well as torture by cold, hunger, lack of medical care and treatment, and violence.

Lastly, I want to ask for your attention to two additional cases. One is that of Ales Bialiatski, the chairperson of Viasna and 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureate who was sentenced to 10 years in prison. His work to advocate for democracy and to document the Belarusian regimes' abuse and torture of political prisoners, led to his re-imprisonment for ten years on trumped up charges for financing groups that "violate public order." In addition, I want to highlight the unjust detention of Andrey Kuznechyk, who like Ihar Losik, is a journalist for RFE/RL's Belarus service. He was detained in November 2021 and accused of "creating or participating in an extremist organization." Viasna has identified him as a political prisoner. Due to his and Ihar's affiliation with a U.S.-supported network, we must also treat his case as a priority.

Mr. Secretary, I commend your engagement on behalf of political prisoners during your tenure as Secretary of State. Your unrelenting attention and perseverance on behalf of persons who have been arbitrarily detained publicly underscores the value the United States places on supporting freedom and democracy globally.

I urge you to advocate on behalf of these prisoners in Belarus whom the Lukashenka regime seeks to obscure through their detention, silencing and denial of care.

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