[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 11250]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                BELARUS, THE LAST DICTATORSHIP IN EUROPE

  (Mr. SHIMKUS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, as we're talking about debts and deficits 
financially, I'm here to talk about a freedom debt and a freedom 
deficit that's occurring in parts around the world. One that I've been 
focused on a lot is the country of Belarus, the last dictatorship in 
Europe.
  The political, economic, and human rights situation in Belarus has 
significantly deteriorated. A total of 33 opposition leaders and 
activists are still being held in prison for peacefully protesting 
against a dictatorial regime and a falsified 2010 presidential 
election. Silent protests have sprung up on an online campaign, called 
``Revolution through Social Networks,'' which encourages people to come 
to their localities' central squares every Wednesday to express 
discontent with the Lukashenko regime.
  Opposition activists, journalists and ordinary people have been and 
continue to be arrested. The authorities have also launched 
``distributed denial of service'' attacks on opposition Web sites.
  The United States and the European Union continue to condemn these 
activities. We must think strategically about Belarus post-Lukashenko 
when the people of Belarus are finally able to establish a democratic 
society based upon the principles of a free-market economy. In 
anticipation of that day, each and every one of us should prepare now 
so as to be in a position to rapidly assist in the establishment of 
internationally recognized elections and rules-based, transparent 
government in Belarus.

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