McCaul, Engel Statement on Belarus Restricting Freedom of the Press

Washington, DC— Congressmen Michael McCaul and Eliot Engel, Republican Leader and Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today released the following statement on Belarus expelling journalists covering the ongoing protests:

“The Belarusian authorities’ decision to strip the accreditation from nearly two dozen journalists from major foreign news organizations is unacceptable. This latest move, along with efforts to disrupt internet access, to restrict access to independent media and to detain and harass journalists, is part of a malicious campaign to silence those opposed to the dictatorship of Aleksandr Lukashenko and conceal the horrific stories of the regime’s violent crackdown. The Belarusian authorities must stop restricting freedom of press and instead allow for the voices from the historic and peaceful protests to be heard.”

 

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