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Washington, DC – On the one-year anniversary of the fraudulent presidential election in Belarus, and in response to the Biden Administration’s announcement of a new Executive Order with expanded Belarus sanctions authorities as well as additional designations of individuals and entities in the Lukashenka regime, House Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Republican Michael McCaul has released the following statement.

“One year ago today, the Belarusian people went to the ballot box and clearly chose a democratic future that did not include Alyaksandr Lukashenka. On today’s anniversary, I want to reaffirm the U.S. Congress’ unwavering support for the brave Belarusians in their fight against Lukashenka’s abusive and illegitimate dictatorship.

“International sanctions will continue to be a critical tool in this struggle, and today’s Executive Order and additional sanctions are necessary steps to align with those economic sanctions already imposed by the European Union this June – and in some cases, going further. Yet, the brutality and transnational nature of Lukashenka’s repression requires a much more forceful response not only to convince the Belarusian dictator to release political prisoners and hold new free and fair elections, but also to make clear to the Kremlin its efforts to undermine Belarusian sovereignty will be met with consequences. Therefore, I urge the Administration to continue to ramp up sanctions on Lukashenka’s financial backers, their families and those in the Putin regime propping up Lukashenka in direct contradiction of the Belarusian people’s democratic aspirations.”

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