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	<title> - WOMEN LEADING THE WAY: THE DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT IN BELARUS</title>
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	[House Hearing, 117 Congress]
	[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


	WOMEN LEADING THE WAY: THE DEMOCRATIC
	MOVEMENT IN BELARUS

	=======================================================================

	HEARING

	BEFORE THE

	SUBCOMMITTEE ON EUROPE, ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND CYBER

	OF THE

	COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

	ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

	FIRST SESSION

	__________

	March 17, 2021

	__________

	Serial No. 117-9

	__________

	Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

	[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

	Available: http://www.foreignaffairs.house.gov/, http://
	docs.house.gov,
	or http://www.govinfo.gov

	__________

	U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
	45-701 PDF WASHINGTON : 2021

	-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------



	COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS

	GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York, Chairman

	BRAD SHERMAN, California MICHAEL T. McCAUL, Texas, Ranking
	ALBIO SIRES, New Jersey Member
	GERALD E. CONNOLLY, Virginia CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey
	THEODORE E. DEUTCH, Florida STEVE CHABOT, Ohio
	KAREN BASS, California SCOTT PERRY, Pennsylvania
	WILLIAM KEATING, Massachusetts DARRELL ISSA, California
	DAVID CICILLINE, Rhode Island ADAM KINZINGER, Illinois
	AMI BERA, California LEE ZELDIN, New York
	JOAQUIN CASTRO, Texas ANN WAGNER, Missouri
	DINA TITUS, Nevada BRIAN MAST, Florida
	TED LIEU, California BRIAN FITZPATRICK, Pennsylvania
	SUSAN WILD, Pennsylvania KEN BUCK, Colorado
	DEAN PHILLIPS, Minnesota TIM BURCHETT, Tennessee
	ILHAN OMAR, Minnesota MARK GREEN, Tennessee
	COLIN ALLRED, Texas ANDY BARR, Kentucky
	ANDY LEVIN, Michigan GREG STEUBE, Florida
	ABIGAIL SPANBERGER, Virginia DAN MEUSER, Pennsylvania
	CHRISSY HOULAHAN, Pennsylvania AUGUST PFLUGER, Texas
	TOM MALINOWSKI, New Jersey PETER MEIJER, Michigan
	ANDY KIM, New Jersey NICOLE MALLIOTAKIS, New York
	SARA JACOBS, California RONNY JACKSON, Texas
	KATHY MANNING, North Carolina YOUNG KIM, California
	JIM COSTA, California MARIA ELVIRA SALAZAR, Florida
	JUAN VARGAS, California JOE WILSON, South Carolina
	VICENTE GONZALEZ, Texas RON WRIGHT, Texas
	BRAD SCHNEIDER, Illinois

	Jason Steinbaum, Staff Director
	Brendan Shields, Republican Staff Director

	------

	Subcommittee on Europe, Energy,the Environment and Cyber

	WILLIAM R. KEATING, Massachusetts, Chairman

	SUSAN WILD, Pennsylvania BRIAN FITZPATRICK,
	ABIGAIL SPANBERGER, Virginia Pennsylvania,Ranking Member
	ALBIO SIRES, New Jersey ANN WAGNER, Missouri
	THEODORE DEUTCH, Florida ADAM KINZINGER, Illinois,
	DAVID CICILLINE, Rhode Island BRIAN MAST, Florida
	DINA TITUS, Nevada DAN MEUSER, Pennsylvania
	DEAN PHILLIPS, Minnesota AUGUST PFLUGER, Texas
	JIM COSTA, California NICOLE MALLIOTAKIS, New York
	VICENTE GONZALEZ, Texas PETER MEIJER, Michigan
	BRAD SCHNEIDER, Illinois

	Leah Nodvin, Staff Director

	C O N T E N T S

	----------
	Page

	PHOTOS SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD

	Photos submitted for the record from Mr. Smith................... 7

	WITNESSES

	Tsikhanouskaya, Sviatiana, Belarusian Human Rights Activist and
	Politician..................................................... 23

	INFORMATION REFERRED

	Information referred to from Mr. Fitzpatrick..................... 33

	APPENDIX

	Hearing Notice................................................... 47
	Hearing Minutes.................................................. 48
	Hearing Attendance............................................... 49

	RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD

	Responses to questions submitted for the record.................. 50


	WOMEN LEADING THE WAY: THE DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT IN BELARUS

	Wednesday, March 17, 2021

	House of Representatives,
	Subcommittee on Europe, Energy, the
	Environment and Cyber,
	Committee on Foreign Affairs,
	Washington, DC,

	The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 9:32 a.m., via
	Webex, Hon. William R. Keating (chairman of the subcommittee)
	presiding.
	Mr. Keating [presiding]. The House Foreign Affairs
	subcommittee will come to order.
	And without objection, the chair is authorized to declare a
	recess of the committee at any point. And all members will have
	5 days to submit , extraneous material, and questions for the
	record, subject to the length limitations in the rules. To
	insert something into the record, please have your staff email
	to the previously mentioned address or contact full committee
	staff.
	Please keep your video function on at all times, even when
	you are not recognized by the chair. Members are responsible
	for muting and unmuting themselves. Please remember to mute
	yourself after you finish speaking.
	Consistent with House Resolution 965 and the accompanying
	regulations, staff will only mute members and witnesses, as
	appropriate, when they are not under recognition, to eliminate
	background noise.
	I see that we have a quorum present. I will now recognize
	myself for an opening statement.
	Pursuant to notice, we are holding a hearing today entitled
	``Women Leading the Way: The Democratic Movement in Belarus''.
	I will begin my statement. In the days leading up to August
	2020 and the Presidential election that day in Belarus, one
	after another, the Presidential candidates who opposed
	Alexander Lukashenko were jailed or forced out of the country.
	The election then took place without international observers
	under the control of State-owned media and in an atmosphere of
	fear and intimidation.
	On the actual election day, Sviatiana Tsikhanouskaya
	stepped in for her husband, Siarhei Tikhanouski, a typical
	activist and blogger who was jailed just a few weeks before.
	During the election process, independent sources found that
	Sviatiana Tsikhanouskaya received more votes than the incumbent
	Lukashenko, and when the election results came in, it was clear
	to Belarusians and the international community at large that
	the election had taken place in fraudulent conditions and that
	Lukashenko could not claim victory. Yet, Lukashenko claimed
	himself to be President, underestimating the will of the
	Belarusian people and the strength of Sviatiana Tsikhanouskaya.
	After 26 years of dictatorial rule, the Belarusian people
	had had enough. They gathered in the streets en masse,
	peacefully demonstrated against the Lukashenko regime and for
	their right to a new, free, and fair election. They organized
	themselves through new means of technology, sharing information
	over applications like Telegram.
	And what is so striking for many of us in the U.S. was that
	they were led by a coalition of women who called for solidarity
	with Sviatiana Tsikhanouskaya. Unfortunately, these peaceful
	demonstrations were met with State-sponsored violence that was
	organized and mandated by the highest levels of government.
	Security forces began to beat and detain hundreds of peaceful
	demonstrators, crack down on independent journalists, and
	intimidate opposition leaders.
	The Lukashenko regime took Sviatiana Tsikhanouskaya into a
	government building, directly threatened her and her family,
	and thus, forced her into exile in Lithuania. Later, activists
	like Maria Kalesnikava were kidnapped and attempts were made to
	force them out of the country as well. And finally, journalists
	like Katsiaryna Andreyeva and Darya Chultsova were arrested and
	jailed for simply filming peaceful demonstrations.
	Authorities have arbitrarily detained and physically,
	sexually, and emotionally assaulted tens of thousands of
	peaceful protestors, journalists, and civil society members.
	Today, hundreds remain in detention, and many have recounted
	experiencing torture, sexual violence and rape, beatings, and
	other ill treatment. At least eight protestors have been
	killed.
	And today, the Belarusian people mark 221 days or
	resistance against brutal authoritarian oppression. It has been
	over 7 months in a fight to establish a rule of law and achieve
	a democratic future for their country.
	We in Congress must stand with the people of Belarus as
	they push for democracy. We must recognize the sacrifices made
	daily by peaceful protestors who take to the streets, knowing
	full well that they will face harassment, intimidation,
	unlawful detention, or worse. And we must salute the courage of
	the women of Belarus who in a highly patriarchal society have
	shown strength, determination, and leadership, standing at the
	center of organizations like Coordination Council, in an
	attempt to establish a dialog with the Lukashenko regime and
	initiate new, free, and fair elections.
	Our expert witness today knows all too well the challenges
	posed by autocratic regimes who benefit from corruption and
	whose close friends and allies only support repressive tactics.
	Yet, the continuous fight for democracy around the world is
	real and can take different forms. We have watched some
	countries, such as those in Central Europe, who have fallen
	into the trap that is democratic backsliding and illiberalism.
	We have watched as authoritarian States have used the pandemic
	to gather even greater control over their citizens, such as the
	recent arrest of almost 200 opposition leaders in Moscow. And
	we here in Washington have had to confront the fragile nature
	of our own democracy, as just months ago, violent, armed
	insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to halt
	the democratic process for a free and fair election.
	In times marked by challenges to democracy at home and
	abroad, one democracy must lend its hand to another. Helping
	democratic allies across borders and oceans can ensure that
	societies seeking to establish democratic, often in the face of
	anti-democratic threats, can prevail. A network of support, and
	the ability to communicate with that network, is a necessary
	component to democratic strength. That is why we, the
	transatlantic community and the U.S. Congress, must stand in
	unity and support the democratic movement in Belarus and all
	those who fight to establish or protect their democracy abroad.
	That is why last September I held a hearing before this
	subcommittee on the democratic awakening of governments. That
	hearing included firsthand accounts of images of violence
	inflicted upon the Belarusian people by security forces, with
	introduced resolutions condemning the human rights abuses by
	Lukashenko and praising the bravery of the Belarusian citizens.
	We have also passed the revised version of the Belarus
	Democracy, Human Rights, and Sovereignty Act, authored by
	Representative Chris Smith, which expanded the robust set of
	sanctions and authorities related to Belarus at the President's
	disposal.
	Yet, while we have taken these steps forward, it is the
	peaceful protestors on the ground in Belarus and the Belarusian
	diaspora around the world from Vilnius to Cape Cod that
	continues to drive movements and democracy forward and to keep
	this fight for democracy in Belarus alive.
	With that being said, I am pleased to welcome the woman who
	has become the leader of the democratic movement in Belarus,
	Sviatiana Tsikhanouskaya, as our expert witness today. She did
	not plan to run for President. However, as she has said, she
	has shown up for her people because her people showed up for
	her. Her steadfast courage, dedication, and tenacity is
	remarkable, and I look forward to our discussion.
	I now turn to the ranking member for his remarks, Mr.
	Fitzpatrick.
	Mr. Fitzpatrick. Good morning, and thank you, Chairman
	Keating.
	Today, we gather to recognize the bravery of our witness,
	Sviatiana Tsikhanouskaya, and her inspiring campaign to promote
	democratic aspirations in the people of Belarus. You and
	historic peaceful protestors have stand down overwhelming odds
	and lit a fire to a renewed democratic spirit in Belarus. And
	this movement is now shining a light on the authoritarian
	shadow that has covered the citizens of Belarus during
	Alexander Lukashenko's rule.
	I would also like to acknowledge the Coordination Council,
	its members, and all the Belarusian citizens engaging in the
	noble pursuit of a free and democratic society. And it is worth
	noting, as we recognize International Women's Month, that
	exceptionally brave and daring women are leading this
	democratic revolution in Belarus.
	Mrs. Sviatiana Tsikhanouskaya and thousands of women like
	her have proven to their country and the rest of the world that
	the future is in their able hands. These freedom fighters are
	not seeking unreasonable terms. They seek legal process. They
	seek freedom of expression and information, and they seek
	freedom from the harassment of an oppressive state. And they
	seek freedom to chart their own future.
	Following the August 9th election, the people of Belarus
	wanted their voices heard in response to the dictatorial
	actions of Lukashenko. In response to these citizens' peaceful
	protests, Lukashenko's security forces responded with excessive
	force, the use of chemical riot dispersion methods and
	measures, and detained citizens completely without cause.
	Plainclothes police officers have engaged in increasingly
	aggressive and brutal crackdowns of those who are peacefully
	protesting the election results and its resulting movement.
	International monitors estimate that more than 32,000
	Belarusians have been temporarily detained and imprisoned, and
	nearly 300 political prisoners remain behind bars as of this
	hearing this morning. According to a report by the European
	Parliament last year, at least 10 demonstrators have been
	killed by government forces or died while in custody under
	suspicious circumstances.
	The harrowing account of our witness describes the
	situation of jailed protestors that, quote, ``have been rounded
	up and housed like cattle in tiny, overcrowded jail cells
	without access to water, sanitization, or any normal sleeping
	positions,'' going on to say that, ``torture is now
	commonplace.''
	Lukashenko has smothered free speech in Belarus and
	manipulated the media to suppress the surge in his opposition
	and conceal the tactics of his oppression. Russian
	propagandists were flown in to work for State-run TV in
	Belarus. Meanwhile, independent journalists have faced
	intimidation and imprisonment. Local critics of the regime face
	trumped-up charges and are imprisoned for speaking truth to
	power.
	And as the illegitimate regime in Belarus continues to
	normalize a litany of human rights violations, the calls for
	Mr. Lukashenko to step down and recognize a new, free, and fair
	system of elections is gaining momentum worldwide. A group in
	my home State of Pennsylvania even organized a rally in
	Pittsburgh in a snow-covered day this year to raise awareness
	of the plight of their loved ones. And as such, the United
	States, in coordination with its European allies and partners,
	must be vigilant and robust in our support for Belarus and
	their civil society and those who are persecuted by the
	Lukashenko regime.
	In line with the Belarus Democracy, Human Rights, and
	Sovereignty Act of 2020, which I cosponsored, we must continue
	to demand the end of Lukashenko's violence and the release of
	all those wrongfully detained, and continue harsh sanctions for
	those complicit in these human rights violations. The
	illegitimate Lukashenko regime must, once and for all, step
	down and allow for free and fair elections to be held. The
	people of Belarus are demanding the right to chart their own
	future, and their voices deserve to be heard.
	I yield back.
	Mr. Keating. I would like to thank the ranking member.
	And without objection, I would like to recognize
	Representative Smith, who is the author of the Belarus
	Democracy Act, for a brief statement.
	Mr. Smith. Mr. Chairman, thank you so very much for
	inviting me to be and allowing to be part of your panel, and to
	Brian Fitzpatrick, as well as to you, for the great work that
	you gentlemen are doing and this subcommittee. Your resolution
	that is pending, I think, will, again, reiterate the
	bipartisan, bicameral support of Congress behind Tsikhanouskaya
	and the rest of the human rights activists and defenders in
	Belarus.
	The leadership that you have shown and that the people of
	Belarus have shown, despite incredible odds, despite the fact
	that the bullies are out there beating, arresting, torturing,
	and even killing the best and the bravest and the brightest of
	Belarus.
	The picture, Mr. Chairman, that you have painted, as well
	as the ranking member, is both bleak and hopeful--bleak because
	Lukashenko is still in charge, but hopeful because the people
	of Belarus have you to champion their dreams, and that goes for
	this leadership led by women who are in exile, some of whom are
	in exile; others, sadly, are in prison.
	My work on Belarus goes back to really the 1990's. And in
	2004, I authored the Belarus Democracy Act, which really has
	become the template for Magnitsky holding men and women in the
	Lukashenko regime, both in terms of visa denial and making them
	unable to participate in any kind of economic relationship with
	the U.S. and U.S. banks. I did it again in 2006, 2011, and as
	you pointed out, the 2020 Act, which reiterates and expands and
	puts an emphasis on sovereignty, because we know that the
	Russians are eying Belarus in a way that is reminiscent of what
	they did with the Crimea and other parts of the Ukraine.
	Again, according to the representative of the OSCE, the
	Belarusian authorities have filed at least 141 politically
	motivated cases again women. Forty-nine are currently in
	detention or under house arrest. Another 75 are suspects in
	politically motivated criminal cases, and thousands of other
	women have fled Belarus in fear for their safety. Despite all
	of this, the image of Belarusian women in white has become
	iconic, representing the hopes of all Belarusians for a better
	future.
	Again, thank you for this timely hearing. And again, it
	gives us all an opportunity to say we are in solidarity with
	these incredibly brave women and men.
	Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I yield back.
	Mr. Keating. Thank you, Representative Smith, and thank you
	for your longstanding work on this important issue.
	Mr. Smith. Thank you.
	Mr. Keating. I will now introduce our witness. Ms.
	Sviatiana Tsikhanouskaya is a central leader of the democratic
	movement in Belarus and a human rights activist who challenged
	Alexander Lukashenko at the 2020 Presidential election. This
	Belarusian election was fraught with widespread fraud and
	followed by unjustifiable violence.
	In the months following, Sviatiana Tsikhanouskaya has been
	a symbol leader of the Belarusian protests and has contributed
	greatly to promoting and organizing positive change in Belarus,
	both through her domestic and international engagement.
	The Europe Parliament recognized the fight of Belarusian
	people for democracy and freedom, led by Sviatiana
	Tsikhanouskaya, by awarding her, among other leaders, the
	prestigious annual Sakharov Prize. She has also received a
	series of international awards for her courageous struggle
	against the authoritarian regime of Lukashenko.
	I will now recognize, and State my pleasure at joining us,
	Ms. Tsikhanouskaya, for 5 minutes. And without objection, your
	prepared written statement will be made a part of the record.
	Ms. Tsikhanouskaya, you are now recognized for your opening
	statement.

	STATEMENT OF SVIATIANA TSIKHANOUSKAYA, BELARUSIAN HUMAN RIGHTS
	ACTIVIST AND POLITICIAN

	Ms. Tsikhanouskaya. Good morning, everyone.
	Chairman Keating, Ranking Member Fitzpatrick, Honorable
	Representative Smith, and distinguished members of the
	subcommittee, first of all, I would like to extend my Saint
	Patrick's Day greetings to all of you. Mr. Keating, as you may
	know from me, Ireland has had a very special place in my heart.
	Mr. Smith, thank you for being here with us today. We
	deeply appreciate your tremendous support for Belarus
	throughout decades, including all four Belarus democracy acts
	that you introduced and helped enact.
	Mr. Chairman, I would like to submit pictures for the
	record.
	Mr. Keating. Without objection, we can display those
	pictures as you begin your testimony.
	[The information referred to follows:]

	[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

	Ms. Tsikhanouskaya. Thank you.
	So, I am deeply grateful for the great honor of addressing
	you on behalf of the Belarusian people. I am here to give voice
	to the thousands of Belarusians who face injustice,
	intimidation, and brutality, and who still continue to protest
	daily.
	It has been more than 7 months since Belarus has begun the
	united peaceful protest movement, which was met with
	unprecedented violence from the authorities. Over 32,000 people
	have been detained. More than 2,500 criminal cases have been
	initiated. Over 1,000 cases of torture have been documented by
	human rights NGO's. And there are 290 political prisoners at
	the moment. At least eight protestors were killed.
	Not a single government official has been held accountable
	for the brutality, repression, torture, and murder. Amidst the
	injustice, the brave women of Belarus became a symbol of hope
	and resilience for our country.
	Seventy-three-year-old Nina Baginskaya has been protesting
	against the regime since the 1990's, despite the detentions by
	police and raids on her house.
	Miss Belarus 2008, Volha Khizhinkova, and basketball star
	Yelena Leuchanka spent 42 days and 15 days, respectively, in
	detention in unsanitary and humiliating conditions for
	peacefully protesting.
	Women wearing white dresses and carrying flowers formed the
	first human chains a shield for male protestors. Their desire
	to protect was stronger than their fear of being detained and
	tortured. Yet, they could not protect everyone.
	On 10th August, Alexander Taraikovsky fell, the first
	victim of police brutality. He was shot point-blank by a police
	squad in Minsk.
	Two female journalists, Darya Chultsova and Katsiaryna
	Andreyeva, were sentenced to 2 years in prison for doing their
	job, livestreaming a vigil for the peaceful protestor Raman
	Bandarenka, who was murdered by the regime cronies in his own
	backyard for protecting our national symbols.
	With those stories, it was straight that we are dealing
	with a human rights crisis of unprecedented proportions for
	Belarus that keeps worsening day by day. But the people still
	persist.
	Our workers united in strike committees. Our doctors and
	professors stood up for their colleagues who were fired for
	their political views. Our professional athletes raised
	awareness all over the world. Principled police officers and
	investigators resigned. Neighborhood communities have become
	the place for a grassroots movement.
	Yet, all of this is not enough. Lukashenko still has the
	resources to retain power. So, the United States should insist
	on stopping the violence, releasing the political prisoners,
	restoring the rule of law, and launching a genuine dialog
	between the legitimate representatives of Belarus and the
	regime.
	At the same time, it is not words, but actions that matter.
	We call on the U.S. to enforce sanctions against State-owned
	enterprises, the judiciary, and oligarchs. Sanctions are one of
	the most effective measures. We call on the U.S. to use its
	diplomacy to isolate Lukashenko by curbing international
	agreements and commerce between the Lukashenko regime and other
	countries. We call on the U.S. to help with international
	mediation through the OSCE.
	We call on the U.S. Congress to consider increasing the
	support for the pressing needs of Belarusians. People of
	Belarus require support, especially the civil society, the
	human rights defenders, the independent media, and the
	businesses. All of them have been repressed by the regime.
	As the European Union has drafted a comprehensive plan to
	support Belarus during the transition and after free and fair
	elections, we call on the U.S. Congress to join this work in
	order to start developing a joint Marshall Plan for Belarus.
	I am bound by the view of the majority of Belarusians to
	make this happen, and I call on the United States of America to
	join me on this mission. My nation is facing a humanitarian
	crisis. People are suffering and dying right now. Belarusians
	need you as never before.
	Thank you.
	[The prepared statement of Ms. Tsikhanouskaya follows:]

	[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

	Mr. Keating. Thank you very much for that very moving and
	very important testimony.
	I will now recognize members for 5 minutes each. And
	pursuant to House rules, all time yielded is for the purpose of
	questioning our witnesses.
	Because of the virtual format of the hearing, I will
	recognize members by committee seniority, alternating between
	Democrats and Republicans. And if you miss your turn, please
	our staff know and we will circle back to you. If you seek
	recognition, you must unmute your microphones and address the
	chair verbally.
	I would just ask, is Representative Sires still with us? I
	know he had to leave. I was going to yield my time to him.
	Evidently, he has had to leave. So, I will start by recognizing
	myself.
	The role of women in the movement for a democratic and free
	Belarus is really the theme of what we are talking about in
	terms of the democratic movement that is there. And this is
	unique in that respect, and it is effective and it is
	important. And it has really captured the attention of the
	world.
	And I would just like to ask you, what specifically you
	have seen as the role of women in spearheading this effort for
	free and democratic elections and a democracy in Belarus? What
	can you tell us in more detail about that specific role of
	women?
	Ms. Tsikhanouskaya. Actually, the women played a huge role
	in this revolution. And first of all, the fact that three women
	led this pre-election campaign in spite of all other
	prohibitions for women to fight. We three women, we are put in
	this position instead of our men, and it was really the
	regime's mistake that they underestimated women of Belarus.
	Our ex-President always told that our constitution is not
	for women, that women will never be able to lead the country,
	but we managed because women, especially Belarusian women, are
	really strong. And when our women were put in such
	circumstances, when they had to show how strong they are, they
	showed the most bravery that the whole world was inspired of.
	And after 3 days of hell the regime made in Belarus after
	the election date, and thousands of men had been detained and
	tortured in jails, our women had to stand in front of our men,
	just hide the men behind them to protect them. So, our
	wonderful, peaceful women showed to the whole world that we are
	brave and we manage everything, only because we want a better
	future for our children, and we ready to defend not only our
	children, but our men as well.
	Mr. Keating. I think this effort has changed the dynamics,
	gender dynamics, in the country as well. It goes far beyond
	this movement itself.
	Now you recently released a liberation plan of yours. Can
	you highlight the most important aspects of that and how the
	U.S. can be useful in seeing that plan come to life?
	Ms. Tsikhanouskaya. I think that the women of this
	revolution after the election, and before the election, we
	thought that we need new elections because the previous
	election was falsified, and just to step out of this political
	and humanitarian crisis in Belarus, we need new elections. But
	we need these new elections through peaceful dialog with the
	regime.
	But we see that the regime does not respond to our calls
	for negotiations. And that is why we are systematically,
	continuously putting pressure on the regime and his cronies.
	Inside the country, these are protesting movements,
	demonstratives, different initiatives. People are not giving
	up. And despite of this tremendous level of violence from the
	regime, people are continuing to fight.
	But, of course, we need international support as well. We
	need international pressure because democratic countries cannot
	close their eyes on what is going on in Belarus and they have
	to stand for the values of the democratic countries, for human
	rights, for dignity. And it is the institution in Belarus, it
	is a challenge not only for Belarusians, it is a challenge for
	European countries, for the USA, for Canada, just to prove that
	the values are not just words; that they want, that they have
	to stand for these.
	And we are a wonderful country, and we are on our own path
	for democracy. So, we call on you, stand with us in this
	difficult time and do your best for one more nation, proud
	nation, to become a democratic country.
	Mr. Keating. Well, thank you. And I also want to thank you
	for meeting with Ambassador Julie Fisher. I spoke with her just
	the other day, and we are looking forward to her being
	recognized, too, by Belarus.
	I now yield to our ranking member, Mr. Fitzpatrick, for his
	questions.
	Mr. Fitzpatrick. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I
	would like to begin by asking you, sir, to please enter into
	the record a letter from the Free Belarus Coalition for
	Bipartisan and Bicameral Support requesting $30 million for
	Fiscal Year 2022, funding to support Belarus' civil society and
	the organic democratic movement.
	Mr. Keating. Without objection, that will be, per our
	instructions in the beginning, put in the record. Thank you.
	[The information referred to follows:]

	[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

	Mr. Fitzpatrick. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
	And this is aligned with the bipartisan 2020 Belarus
	Democracy Act, which calls for increased foreign assistance.
	Ms. Tsikhanouskaya, thank you so much for being here with
	us today. We greatly admire and respect your courage more than
	you know. You are a beacon of courage, not just for us on this
	committee, but for the Congress and for the world.
	So, ma'am, if you could just state for the record, in
	furtherance of this request for $30 million, how will the
	Belarus assistance be best served by those who are pro-civil
	society and are pro-democratic initiatives?
	Ms. Tsikhanouskaya. So, first of all, I have to say that
	your help is very extremely essential in our case, but I have
	to admit that we need rapid help because people are suffering
	now in this very moment in jails and on the ground.
	And so, through those, democracy can progress, can
	increase, and appropriate more funding for two organizations
	working in Belarus. For example, just through traditional and
	emerging civil society, like traditional, we need to help to
	NGO's like defend activists now, to media and to activities,
	and to emerging civil society like Telegram channels, YouTube
	bloggers, athletes, doctors. And you also can increase budgets
	for Belarus of American organizations, such as USAID, for
	example.
	But, again, I have to repeat that this is urgent help. You
	know, just to keep civil society resistance, we need to have
	them now.
	Mr. Fitzpatrick. Thank you, Sviatiana.
	And to all my colleagues on the committee, I urge strong
	bipartisan support for this funding request.
	Mr. Chairman, I yield back.
	Mr. Keating. I would like to thank the ranking member.
	And the chair now recognizes the vice chair of the
	committee, Ms. Spanberger.
	Ms. Spanberger. Thank you very much.
	And thank you for being with us here today, Ms.
	Tsikhanouskaya. You have demonstrated immense bravery and
	selflessness over the past year and a true commitment to the
	people and the future of Belarus. Thank you. And I know that
	those standing up for democratic principles and human rights
	around the world appreciate your tremendous work and,
	certainly, your willingness to be a witness here today.
	After your husband's candidacy for the election in August
	was denied, you took on the role and ran against Lukashenko.
	How has your own vision of your future and leadership evolved
	since August? And frankly, did you ever see yourself taking on
	such a prominent role?
	Ms. Tsikhanouskaya. Thank you. You know, I became in this
	action and campaign a symbol of resistance, a symbol of unity.
	But, as a matter of fact, life put me in such circumstances
	that I had to take this responsibility and become a leader of
	this revolution. And I know that the Belarusian people know who
	they voted for, and I feel huge support from the Belarusian
	people.
	It is a rather difficult way. You know, I was put in
	difficult circumstances. I feel huge pressure from propaganda.
	And I know that all the Belarusian people are feeling
	tremendous pressure on the ground. But knowing that I am doing
	this for the future of the Belarusian people, for my children,
	for all those who are suffering in jails now, I have to find
	strength every day of this fight, and I am finding this
	strength in the Belarusian people. I know that they are
	fighting and that they are not giving up. So, I have no right
	to give up as well.
	It is difficult, but I am a woman, and a woman is
	everything.
	[Laughter.]
	Ms. Spanberger. Isn't that so true?
	Well, I am curious, then, how has your forced exile
	affected your ability to interact with the democratic movement
	back home in Belarus? And how has it impacted your ability to
	communicate and advocate, and certainly lead, this continued
	movement?
	Ms. Tsikhanouskaya. You know, it was the usual regime's
	practice to make the people flee from the country for them to
	stop struggling. And the same happened to me. I was sent out of
	the country and I was supposed to stop, but I could not. I
	could not betray the Belarusian people.
	And, you know, the propaganda always say, ``Oh, she lost
	this connection with Belarus. She is an exile. She does not
	understand everything.'' But it is not true. And thanks to the
	internet, every day I have some conferences and some meetings
	with all the groups in Belarus. I have meetings with doctors,
	with students, workers, striking committees, neighborhoods.
	Every day I have to tell people, I have to look into their
	eyes, I have to inspire them, and they inspire me back. So, for
	sure, I am not losing this connection. I feel like I am there
	on the ground through this connection.
	But, of course, knowing that I will be jailed as soon as I
	pass the border, I am sure that here, even in exile, I can do
	much, much more for the Belarusian people, for the sake of my
	country. So, I have to stay here and struggle to bear that with
	the Belarusian people.
	Ms. Spanberger. Well, I want to thank you so much for
	bringing your answers to this committee, certainly your
	experiences. Thank you for your continued work on behalf of the
	Belarusian people and on behalf of democratic ideals and
	values. It is amazing to see leaders like you who are fighting
	for the rights of the people they should be representing and
	that they want to stand up for. So, thank you again for coming
	before this committee. Thank you for telling us, as a
	committee, what we could be doing to support. And I think you
	have heard so far that you have many American Members of
	Congress who are paying close attention to your ongoing
	struggles and the struggles of your people. So, thank you very
	much.
	And, Mr. Chairman, I yield back.
	Mr. Keating. The chair thanks the vice chairman.
	It is my understanding that Representative Wagner has
	yielded her time to Representative Smith. So, the chair calls
	on Representative Smith for his questions.
	Mr. Smith. Thank you very much, and, Ann, thank you very
	much.
	Mr. Chairman, thank you again for this important hearing,
	so we can reassert, recalibrate, and do even more to help the
	democratic opposition in Belarus. And Sviatiana certainly
	epitomizes grace under pressure, courage under pressure, and we
	are all inspired, I think, beyond words to do more to assist.
	You, in your recent appeal to the United Nations, you and
	the United States, Sviatiana, asked that political prisoners
	and trying to support political prisoners, that we sanction
	prison chiefs, judges, prosecutors, prison guards. And I am
	wondering, is it your sense that we are doing enough to try to
	impose those sanctions? Obviously, getting the names of those
	individuals is extremely important, and the more we have that,
	the more we can try to hold them to account.
	You have also noted the gross mistreatment of the female
	prisoners, including threatening to take their children away,
	humiliation of all kinds, beatings, all kinds of assault,
	humiliation. If you could perhaps elaborate on some of that,
	because it is outrageous.
	I have met with Lukashenko twice. He is a bully. We all
	know that. I think he is an egomaniac. We all know that.
	But, for those who are behind bars, we have to got to find
	the most effective strategies to intervene, and to do it
	immediately. In this, bottom line, do you think we are all
	doing enough, the European Union, the United States, the U.N.?
	And be blunt. You know, everyone means well. We all mean well.
	This is totally bipartisan. And again, the chairman I think is
	doing a great job. His resolution will, again, give us an
	opportunity to speak out with one voice when that comes up on
	the floor of the House. Don't worry about being diplomatic. We
	have got to know, are we doing enough? Sviatiana?
	Ms. Tsikhanouskaya. Yes, I am here. I have to say that I am
	really grateful for all the actions that Europe and America and
	Canada did, have done already, because you stand for us in the
	crucial moment of our revolution, just after the elections. No
	one country recognized Lukashenko as legitimate. Everybody told
	that the elections were fraudulent, Lukashenko is illegitimate.
	And just I ask you at the moment to be consistent in your
	vision.
	And I understand that you have done a lot and you imposed
	sanctions, individual sanctions. But, you know, what is going
	on in Belarus, it is my personal pain. And, of course, just to
	stop this level of violence, just to start negotiations, to
	start to develop, we need more pressure on the Lukashenko
	regime. And in this way, I suppose that sanctions are the most
	powerful leverage to make this regime to respond to our calls
	for dialog.
	And now, we need to widen this list of individual
	sanctions. These sanctions should be imposed on security forces
	offices, judges, educational and support officials who support
	the regime, who in this or that extent were involved in
	atrocities and humiliation and violence in Belarus.
	And also, Congress should also legislate to widen the
	sectorial sanctions, such as in the oil and gas and the potash
	fertilizers industries, just to strike at the regime's most
	important benefactors and prime resources of resilience.
	So, we have to put sanctions on those like bullies of
	Lukashenko that support the regime. And support the regime
	means supporting violence and torture in Belarus. So, I am sure
	that you can do more and more. Until this violence stops, we
	have to put greater pressure on the regime.
	Thank you.
	Mr. Smith. Thank you.
	Mr. Keating. Thank you, Representative.
	Mr. Smith. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
	Mr. Keating. The chair now recognizes Representative Wild.
	Ms. Wild. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Sorry for the delay in
	getting my mute off. I appreciate it. Sorry.
	Mr. Keating. Okay.
	Ms. Wild. Okay, I am ready to go. I am sorry about that.
	First of all, I just want to start by echoing comments made
	by my colleagues in recognizing your courageous efforts to
	build a democratic future in Belarus. Your leadership is
	inspiring.
	And my question is about the role of U.S. diplomacy. I
	would like to know what your thoughts are on the role that
	might be played by newly appointed Ambassador Julie Fisher in
	promoting democracy and supporting the democratic aspirations
	of the people of Belarus. And as she engages with a regime that
	does not have popular legitimacy, what message would you like
	our Ambassador to convey?
	Ms. Tsikhanouskaya. Thank you. As a matter of fact, with
	Julie Fisher, we had a wonderful conversation, and I saw such a
	huge empathy for the Belarusian people from her. And I
	understood that she would be the greatest diplomat on the
	ground ever.
	And, of course, we welcome the presence of Julie Fisher on
	the ground for her to monitor the situation in Belarus. She can
	visit jails just to see conditions of keeping women and men in
	jails. They are unhuman, I have to say. She can visit trials,
	you know, to see that there is no law in Belarus. She can
	support civil society in different ways.
	But a very important moment, Julie Fisher has not given
	credentials to Lukashenko. He is not the legitimate President
	and he cannot be considered as a person whom credentials can be
	given to. So, I am sure it can be done, you know. I mean, she
	can stay there as a diplomat without doing this action.
	Ms. Wild. Thank you.
	And I have a little bit more time. So, I also wanted to ask
	you, you have called on the pro-democracy movement to hold
	demonstrations on March 25th, on Freedom Day, marking Belarus'
	declaration of independence in 1918. What I would like to know
	is, what can we, as Members of the U.S. Congress, and others
	who stand in solidarity with pro-democracy forces, do that
	might be helpful to put pressure on the regime ahead of that
	day or on that day?
	Ms. Tsikhanouskaya. On the 25th of March, it is our
	independence day in Belarus, and people went out for
	demonstrations every year. And for sure, this year will not be
	an exclusion. And moreover, people demand this day will be the
	beginning of the new wave of demonstrations in Belarus, new
	wave of protesting movement.
	And people really have this in a demand to show them that
	we are here; we are people that have our rights to vote, to say
	everything. And, of course, people will go for the rallies, and
	people are continuing putting pressure by different
	initiatives.
	And just to support these people, the whole world has to
	show solidarity with them, to be vocal about them, to put these
	facts on the reader, that, look, there are some people who are
	fighting; they are still there, and we have to help them. Just
	put the repression of Belarus on the agenda. Be with us with
	any different ways. Talk about us in the social media, in the
	social networks. You know, put us on the agenda, and we will
	see this. Because international support is extremely important
	in our case. We have to know that the whole world is watching
	us, that we are not alone.
	Ms. Wild. Thank you so much. We will do our best to support
	you.
	I yield back, Mr. Chair.
	Mr. Keating. Thank you, Representative Wild.
	Representative Wagner is now recognized for 5 minutes.
	Mrs. Wagner. I thank you, Mr. Chairman, for this very
	important hearing. I am proud to stand with the Belarusian
	democratic movement as it demands greater freedom and respect
	for fundamental rights from the authoritarian Lukashenko
	regime.
	I want to thank our witness, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya, for her
	courage and tireless work for the people of Belarus.
	Ms. Tsikhanouskaya, you wrote last year that ``Access to
	information is the strongest weapon'' the opposition has. And I
	could not agree more. Truth is the potent threat to
	authoritarianism, and shedding light on the abuses perpetrated
	by the Lukashenko regime advances democracy and liberty for
	Belarusians. What more can the United States do to support
	independent media in Belarus and amplify voices that continue
	to exercise their rights to dissent and free speech?
	Ms. Tsikhanouskaya. Thank you. Yes, you are so right, the
	media is really important in our case because
	[audio interference] in Belarus. You know that this regime
	has oppressed almost all the independent media in Belarus. They
	cannot work. The regime did not create international media.
	They did not allow international media to come to Belarus, just
	because he had a lot to hide. He had to hide his crimes,
	violence, and atrocities. And still, just for media to survive
	in Belarus, they really need great support.
	And first of all, you can, at the moment, you can support
	different YouTubers that are on the ground and out of the
	country, show us the real situation in Belarus. You have to
	call to free imprisoned journalists who just have been detained
	for doing their job. And you can support Telegram channels that
	also show the real picture, the crowds. And you can support
	Radio Free Europe on the ground. So, a lot can be done really,
	and thank you for what you are doing already.
	Mrs. Wagner. Thank you.
	In the coming months, how will opposition's Coordination
	Council work to sustain the pro-democracy movement in Belarus?
	How is the Lukashenko government obstructing the Council's
	mission, and how can the United States best pressure Lukashenko
	to end political persecution of Council members specifically?
	Ms. Tsikhanouskaya. You know, the Coordination Council was
	created as they pled for negotiations, and they are building
	structures inside the country, different working groups that
	are working with students, with striking committees, with
	neighborhoods, and all this stuff. And this new form of social
	groups, pressure social groups, are extremely important. It is
	like a new building of democratic organizations. We have never
	had democracies within our country. It is like grassroots
	democracy.
	And every country can support this organization, these
	grassroots organizations, like teaching them how to build this
	democracy, how to be involved in this political competitions, I
	would say. And we have to start everything. We have to start
	everything from the beginning, and you can assist us in this.
	Mrs. Wagner. Thank you very much.
	I understand that the Kremlin sent Russian propagandists to
	work at Belarusian State TV in support of the Lukashenko
	regime. Are these propagandists still actively working in
	Belarus, and are their efforts to shape the information domain
	in Belarus in Lukashenko's favor, is it working?
	Ms. Tsikhanouskaya. You know, after the
	[audio interference] violence after the elections, most of
	journalists were fired from State TV, but they very soon were
	replaced by Russian journalists. And Russian journalists did
	not feel the pain that the rest of the journalists felt. And,
	of course, they could use this propaganda very widely to show
	me in the bad way, I would say.
	But now, I know that the Russian journalists, they already
	went back to Russia, but, still, propaganda in Belarus is
	working very hard. They want to discredit me. They want to show
	that the opposition is splitting, but it is not; it isn't so.
	And they put much, they put a lot of efforts to show that the
	opposition like died. And every day we show to the whole world
	that we are still here, that we are fighting. So, we are
	fighting with the propaganda as well. They cannot do anything
	when the opposition is united.
	Thank you.
	Mrs. Wagner. Well, thank you. Thank you, Ms.
	Tsikhanouskaya. We are grateful for your courage.
	And I have expired my time. Gratefully, Mr. Chairman, I
	yield back.
	Mr. Keating. Thank you.
	The chair recognizes Representative Deutch for 5 minutes.
	Mr. Deutch. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I want
	to really extend a deep debt of gratitude to you for holding
	this hearing today. There are a lot of things that our
	committee does, and they are all important, but what we are
	doing today in this hearing, and the message that we are
	sending to Lukashenko, the message that we are sending to the
	people of Belarus, the message that we are sending to the
	Kremlin and to the world, that we are committed to helping to
	foster democracy, to standing on the side of those who want the
	ability to live in a democracy. That is as important as
	anything we will do.
	And, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya, there is no one who has done more
	in Belarus to help accomplish than you. And I want to thank you
	for appearing before the committee. I want to thank you for
	your powerful testimony.
	We see in the work we do here the constant, relentless
	threat that authoritarianism poses to democracies and to
	democratic values. And Belarus and the United States may not be
	neighbors, but the struggle in Belarus today is a generational
	challenge that we cannot afford to look away from. We have to
	lead.
	And as my colleagues have made clear, the U.S. Congress
	stands with the people of Belarus and we support you as you
	work to withstand Russian aggression, create a freer, more
	democratic nation. So, the battle lines of the fight to protect
	democratic values and human rights transcends State boundaries
	and peoples. It is imperative that those who stand for
	democracy everywhere, including here in the United States,
	recognize one another as partners in this struggle.
	And not only am I an American invested in protecting my own
	country's democracy, I am also, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya, the proud
	grandson of immigrants from two small towns in Belarus.
	And I thank you for your testimony today, and I thank you
	for your courage and for your determination.
	I want to ask you, we have spoken a lot, you have spoken
	powerfully about the pressure that Lukashenko must feel.
	Recently, Lukashenko talked about enacting constitutional
	reforms at a referendum next year and organizing new
	Presidential elections sometime thereafter. How do you
	interpret these actions, and what can we do to not fall prey to
	efforts to shield Lukashenko and others responsible for the
	jailings, the attacks on journalists and activists, from our
	actions now? What do we do here with this?
	Ms. Tsikhanouskaya. You know, I have to say that when the
	regime is at risk, it starts to talk about a new constitution
	and referendum, and all this stuff. We aren't talking about new
	elections. We are talking about dialog between society sources
	and the regime. We need amending of the constitution, but it is
	not the question now. The question now is solving a political
	and humanitarian crisis in Belarus. And this amendment of the
	constitution expressed, that he is talking about, it should
	take place alongside with new elections or right after the
	elections. We have to show priorities in our revolution.
	So, as for journalists, again, I have to say that
	journalism is a very important factor in our revolution, and it
	is important to support them because they are lack of space,
	you know, in the country. They cannot earn the money just to
	show us this truth. So, this technical support to journalists
	is very important.
	So, have I missed----
	Mr. Deutch. No, I appreciate it. As I finish, I just want
	to thank you again for your courageous leadership.
	I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member, Mr.
	Smith and others who have been helping us focus the world's
	attention.
	And as you approach these Freedom Day protests, as you talk
	about the need for grassroots democracy, and even as 400
	activists have been sentenced to prison, including a 16-year-
	old suffering from epilepsy who was sentenced to 5 years in
	prison simply for participating in the protests, please know
	that it is not just this subcommittee and the House Foreign
	Affairs Committee, but that the U.S. Congress and the people of
	the United States stand with you and the people of Belarus in
	your rightful quest for democracy. And we are so honored by
	your presence today. Thank you very much.
	I yield back.
	Mr. Keating. Thank you, Mr. Deutch. Thank you for your
	strong remarks and incorporating your family background. That
	was very meaningful.
	Representative Titus is recognized for 5 minutes.
	Ms. Titus. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you for
	setting up this amazing meeting. I cannot imagine having a more
	inspiring witness than we have this morning.
	Thank you for your courage and for being here.
	I would just ask you if you would maybe elaborate on the
	plan that you call the liberation plan that you came out with
	in February. Talk a little bit about maybe your deadlines, what
	you see as part of that plan. Will you be working with any
	NGO's or organizations like NDI or IRI to help you with that?
	And is part of that plan dealing with COVID? I know that
	Lukashenko has just pretty much denied COVID and said, ``Go to
	a spa and drink vodka and you'll be Okay.'' But someone of your
	stature and your presence could have a lot of impact on
	addressing that issue as well.
	Ms. Tsikhanouskaya. You know, the COVID situation is
	rather, I would say, interesting in Belarus because, when the
	whole world was struggling with COVID, with the first wave of
	COVID, our regime told that there was no COVID in Belarus, and
	even if it is, so you can treat it with ``tractors and vodka''.
	And a moment when the regime did not take care of--there
	were some people in the spring. The Russians had to take care
	of themselves. They started to buy this usual mix for doctors
	and this special proven equipment. They collected money to buy
	this equipment for hospitals. So, at that moment, again, we had
	a proff that government does not take care about the Nation.
	And now, the situation is also very bad with COVID on the
	ground, but we know that real numbers are much higher than the
	government say. And one doctor who dared tell the real numbers
	was immediately fired from their hospital, just for telling the
	truth.
	And as for our plan, you know, there cannot be deadlines
	here. Of course, we want new elections to happen on September.
	For this, we have to start dialog this May. That is why people
	are beginning the second wave of the protesting movement in
	Belarus on the ground. That is why this is a very crucial
	moment for all the international society, for all the countries
	and leaders and organizations to put maximum pressure on the
	regime to make him answer our calls for dialog.
	So, we have, if we can say so, spring is the beginning of
	protests. Until May, we have to organize this data platform on
	the basis of overseeing and start to negotiate about new
	elections in September or October this year.
	Ms. Titus. Thank you very much.
	You have quite a task ahead of you. Are you working with
	any NGO's on the ground there? Are there any formal
	organizations? Or is it just kind of spontaneous protests?
	Ms. Tsikhanouskaya. You know, it is very difficult for
	NGO's to survive in Belarus. They are pressed; they are under
	constant pressure. And we can say that we have like legal NGO's
	in Belarus and illegal. I cannot pronounce these words, but
	this is our reality. And we are just trying to help, and, you
	know, the international society is trying to help a different
	kind of NGO's on the ground, for them to transfer this help to
	people who are suffering, people who are in prison, people that
	are fighting. So, we have to like look for new forms of helping
	these NGO's. It is very difficult to work in the country where
	there is no law. You know, all the organizations that are
	helping people are under constant pressure of the regime
	because they don't want this organization to help.
	Ms. Titus. Yes, they don't even want it to exist.
	Well, thank you so much. And thank you for being here and
	for your courage. Just be careful there. Just be careful.
	Ms. Tsikhanouskaya. Thank you so much.
	Mr. Keating. Thank you, Representative Titus.
	Representative Schneider is recognized for 5 minutes.
	Mr. Schneider. Thank you, Chairman Keating. And as others
	have said, I cannot thank you enough for having this hearing.
	And, Mrs. Tsikhanouskaya, I cannot thank you enough for
	spending the time to share with us your story, but also cannot
	thank you enough for the inspiration you provide to your
	country, to the world, for democracy, for courage, bravery, and
	hope.
	I join with my colleagues on this panel who I believe are
	representative of the entire U.S. Congress, and by extension,
	to the entire American people, in standing in solidarity with
	you, with the heroic women leading the way, and with the entire
	Belarusian people, and the pro-democracy movement.
	Personally, my story has connections to Belarus. My
	maternal grandfather's family was from Brest-Litovsk in
	Belarus. They came here at the turn of the last century, but we
	can trace the roots back there.
	I take personally extraordinary inspiration from the
	bravery and the defiance, the resiliency, of the women of
	Belarus that we have talked about today and of the Belarus
	people as a whole.
	I have three questions we can touch on, try to get into
	specifics. I will lay them out, and then, you can address them
	any way you want.
	But, first, what can Congress do to best support you and
	the pro-democracy movement, to support your resolve, the
	resilience, to stand strong throughout this crisis, until we
	get to the end we all hope for?
	Toward that end, in more detail, what pressure can we apply
	to the regime? You mentioned sector-specific sanctions. What
	specific sectors do you have in mind and are there specific
	entrepreneurs we should be focused on?
	And finally, what can Congress, the United States, and our
	allies do to, in your words, create a positive program for
	change for a new Belarus?
	And I think I may have lost you.
	Mr. Keating. Yes. Could we just pause for a moment?
	Ms. Tsikhanouskaya. It was the button. Sorry.
	Mr. Keating. Perhaps if you could just summarize again
	quickly, if that is possible. Representative Schneider, could
	you just----
	Mr. Schneider. I am sorry, were you able to hear me, Ms.
	Tsikhanouskaya, or do I need to summarize?
	Ms. Tsikhanouskaya. Yes, yes, yes. I just think--I am
	sorry--help support the Belarusian people or Belarus at the
	moment; how to be with the Belarusian people? So, first of all,
	this is like three pillars.
	First of all, it is pressure on the regime--sanctions,
	putting political pressure on Lukashenko politically and
	economically, and all this stuff.
	Second, it is support to civil society--media, workers,
	medics, any groups of people.
	And the third pillar is justice in our country. There is no
	law at the moment in Belarus. We have to look for justice in
	other countries. In many cases, investigation of crimes in
	Belarus have been started on the basis of universal
	jurisdiction--you know, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic.
	So, you can like support the three pillars or through
	something else you can. And second, you can support the U.N.
	accountability mechanism for investigating crimes in Belarus.
	And again, from the USA sectoral sanctions, in such spheres,
	oil, gas, and potash fertilizer industries are very important.
	Just if you find any State organizations that are like wallets
	of Lukashenko, oligarchs that are supporting this regime,
	supporting violence, and impose sanctions on them, it will be
	very good, strong leverage on the oppression for the regime.
	And as for the future of Belarus, you know, the only thing
	I want from the future of Belarus is that my children and the
	new generation feel safe on the ground; that they understand
	that a person is their highest value for this country; you
	know, that everybody, every person is responsible for building
	this new Belarus.
	And, you know, having paid such a huge price during this
	revolution for a new Belarus, I am sure that every Belarusian
	will do his or her best to stay united in the future and to do
	everything to come to democracy.
	Mr. Schneider. Thank you. That is a phenomenal, inspiring
	answer, and know that we are with you. Know that we are
	cheering for your country, for your people.
	And with that, I yield back.
	Mr. Keating. Thank you, Representative.
	Representative Meuser is recognized for 5 minutes.
	Representative Meuser?
	Mr. Meuser. Yes, thank you, Chairman.
	Thank you for attending this hearing with us. It is
	certainly some compelling testimony.
	Ms. Tsikhanouskaya, you wrote in a Washington Post op-ed
	last year that, ``we will continue our boycott of the State
	apparatus. Many private businesses have stopped dealing with
	State-owned banks; more will do the same. Whenever possible,
	businesspeople should delay, refuse to pay and refuse to buy
	products from State-owned factories.''
	Can you describe how things have gone since making those
	statements? And has it been successful? Has it had some
	deteriorating factors? Maybe expand upon that a little bit, if
	you would not mind, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya.
	Ms. Tsikhanouskaya. So, can you repeat the question?
	Mr. Meuser. Your comments in The Washington Post op-ed that
	you had written last year regarding boycotting of State-owned
	businesses and factors, can you please expand upon what support
	that was met with? Heavy resistance? Problems for you
	personally? Has it met with any success?
	Ms. Tsikhanouskaya. Well, many people say sanctions can
	make people suffer on the ground because they will lose their
	job or something. But people are already suffering. It is not
	my demand, putting sanctions on the State organizations. It is
	the people's demand who are working in these organizations. You
	know, they are suffering at the moment. They have been fired.
	They are putting on pressure from the regime. They are
	humiliated or other factors in different ways. They get small
	salaries and have a lot to do on the factories. But, still,
	they lead this sanction because people understand that this
	economical pressure will ruin this regime.
	When the regime does not have money to pay to the riot
	police, riot police will refuse to serve this regime. You know,
	it is like a circle. If factory does not pay the regime, the
	regime does not pay the riot police, and the regime does not
	have support because the only support at the moment the regime
	has, it is violence--violence executed by riot police. So,
	people are ready to suffer because of lack of salaries, but
	they want to change this regime so much that they want the
	sanctions most of all.
	Mr. Meuser. Okay. And so, the nine Belarusian officials and
	four entities related to human rights abuses that were
	sanctioned several months ago, has that been effective and
	should that be expanded, in your view? Based on what you
	Stated, we should be engaged in more, heavier sanctions of more
	individuals as well as entities that are part of this
	suppression?
	Ms. Tsikhanouskaya. Of course, I have to say that we are
	grateful for all the sanction list you have already enforced.
	But we see that the number of people is not enough. Because
	this very narrow circle of people sanctioned, they know how to
	avoid the sanctions. You know, they don't have assets in your
	banks already. They know how to avoid this.
	But those people, the judges, security forces offices,
	education and support officials that support the regime, they
	also to be put on the sanctions list. Because the next time,
	the next judge will think twice before making a crime against a
	person or against demonstrators, peaceful demonstrators.
	The threat of these sanctions is sometimes even more useful
	than any other way of pressure on these people. For sure, the
	sanction list has to be widened.
	Mr. Meuser. Right. Thank you very much.
	And, Mr. Chairman, I yield back.
	Mr. Keating. I thank the gentleman for his comments.
	And just a couple of closing remarks. Our thanks, Ms.
	Tsikhanouskaya. This was an enormously moving hearing, an
	unusual hearing in that respect. And your participation and
	taking the time to talk to us in Congress is so important.
	And my colleagues, I want to thank all of them. It is an
	abnormally busy day today for many reasons, and the
	participation was extraordinary at this subcommittee hearing.
	I would say this: that, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya, you began the
	hearing with your remarks wishing us a happy Saint Patrick's
	Day. And I want to think about the words of a very famous Irish
	poet, Seamus Heaney. And he remarked at one point--and it is a
	remark that is used quite often by our President, President
	Biden--when they were talking about a period of troubles in
	Ireland that was so severe. He said that, ``If we winter this
	one out, we can summer anywhere.''
	And I think winter has descended in terms of democracy
	right on Belarus, and the world knows that and the U.S. knows
	that. And we are going to weather this winter together, a
	winter of authoritarian rule, of violence, of intimidation. And
	we are going to work together with you, hopefully, joining
	together as a diaspora, as well as government officials. As you
	go forward with your IT platform and strategy and victory, we
	will be looking, and perhaps helping, to deal with those issues
	as you go forward.
	But I want to tell you we will continue. The U.S. will
	fully implement the powers that it can implement for democracy
	in Belarus. We will work on a continuing basis to stop the
	violence there, to push for the release of political prisoners
	there, and to make sure that there is a genuine dialog between
	the people of Belarus and forging ahead to a legitimate
	government where people can be represented.
	And just in your last few remarks, I think you summed up
	the goals of all of us in a free world when you just said, What
	we want most is to pass a better world and better country to
	our children. And importantly, you said, every person has a
	responsibility.
	So, I want to assure you that we view our responsibility as
	standing up for Belarus, for democracy. And you continue to
	inspire us every day. And the work and the effort that you have
	done, joined by so many courageous individuals, and the
	hallmark of them, probably in this effort more than many
	others, of women being involved is so important.
	So, thank you so much for being here. We will continue to
	work with you to make sure that the people of Belarus can get
	through this winter. And then, when that happens, we can all
	celebrate democracy all the time in the summer. So, thank you
	so much.
	And with that, this hearing is adjourned.
	[Whereupon, at 10:53 a.m., the subcommittee was adjourned.]

	APPENDIX

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	RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD
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