[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 116 (Thursday, July 14, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3288-S3289]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                         Lithuania and Belarus

  Madam President, I was unable to join my colleagues who visited 
Finland as their first stop, as I was in Lithuania, a Baltic State with 
long memories of Russian tyranny.
  In no place is the value of the collective NATO defense more stark 
than in the Baltic States, which Putin, no doubt, would like to 
forcibly return to Soviet dystopia.

  Lithuanian leaders, including President Nauseda, the Speaker of 
Parliament Cmilyte-Nielsen, are keenly aware of the Russian threat. But 
Lithuania is undeterred in helping its neighbors in Ukraine and Belarus 
stand up to Russian aggression, and they are unafraid to stand up to 
the Chinese bullies as well.
  I was glad again to spend time with Valdas Adamkus, a highly 
successful Lithuanian immigrant to Chicago who returned back to his 
homeland of Lithuania and successfully ran for President. He was there 
shortly after Lithuania gained its independence from the Soviet Union.
  President Adamkus' historic leadership and foresight helped bring 
Lithuania not only into the European Union, but equally important, into 
NATO. And for that, the Lithuanian Parliament recently honored his 
achievements. Quite simply, Lithuania is safer today because of his 
vision.
  The awe and esteem Lithuanians feel for this historic leader was 
clear from the reverence shown by the Lithuanian people.
  I also want to mention the tireless work of Belarusian opposition 
leader Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya, who lives in Lithuania after fleeing 
from Belarus from the henchmen of the strongman leader Alexander 
Lukashenko. You see, 2 years ago, her husband, Sergei, ran for 
President against Lukashenko. We know from history that anybody who was 
courageous enough to run against Lukashenko is going to end up in 
prison after the sham elections which he stages with regularity.
  Lukashenko, worried that he couldn't win a fair election, jailed 
Sergei, her husband. Rather than back down in fear, Svetlana, the wife, 
ran in his place. She probably won the rigged election but had to flee 
with her family, leaving Sergei to face an outrageous 18-year prison 
sentence.
  This is a picture of Sergei Tsikhanouskya facing an 18-year sentence 
in Belarusian prison because he had the temerity to challenge 
Lukashenko. Now his wife, a courageous woman if I ever met one, is 
trying to plead his cause and is safely with her children in Lithuania.

[[Page S3289]]

  Thousands upon thousands of Belarusians protested the stolen 
election. Twelve hundred were jailed as a result of it, including 
Sergei. Putin helped Lukashenko at that moment of crisis, and 
Lukashenko is now repaying Putin by using Belarus as a staging ground 
to attack and kill Ukrainians.
  Many brave Belarusians still resist, sabotaging Russian supply lines, 
fighting alongside their Ukrainian brothers and sisters. They 
understand the fate of Ukraine is tied to their own fate and that Putin 
must not prevail.
  Yesterday, I introduced a resolution with Senators Tillis, Shaheen, 
Van Hollen, Markey, Fischer, Cardin, and Rubio recognizing the second 
adversary of this stolen election, the historic peaceful protest, the 
continued heroic efforts of the Belarusian people, and those still 
languishing in their nation's jails. They and their fight for freedom 
and democracy cannot be forgotten. And I urge the administration to 
continue its support for their effort by appointing a new special envoy 
for Belarus without delay.
  Let me conclude with a note of thanks to the many fine members of our 
State Department Foreign Service who worked tirelessly to represent our 
diplomatic interests overseas and also make these congressional visits 
possible. They, along with our military servicemembers serving around 
the world, are national treasures. I thank them for their service.
  I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Republican whip.