The Department of State hosted the Second Strategic Dialogue between the United States government and the Belarusian democratic movement in Vilnius, Lithuania on December 4. Co-chaired by U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Christopher W. Smith and the Belarusian democratic leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the Strategic Dialogue convened representatives of multiple U.S. government agencies with a broad cross-section of Belarusian democratic actors and civil society representatives.
During the Strategic Dialogue, the participants discussed the Lukashenka regime's appalling human rights crackdown against Belarusians. The United States reiterated its call for the unconditional release of the estimated 1,300 political prisoners being held throughout Belarus for exercising their freedom of expression or assembly and will promote accountability for the regime's human rights abuses. The United States emphasized its programming to promote and protect Belarusians' unique national and cultural identity, including their language, literature, arts, and history.
A key topic of discussion was the so-called Belarusian "elections" scheduled for January 26, 2025. Both sides observed that Lukashenka has promoted a climate of fear under which no electoral processes could be called democratic, and the regime's human rights abuses have effectively frozen genuine political activities and discourse inside Belarus. The United States calls on the regime to hold free and fair elections under international observation.
Strategic Dialogue participants also discussed the Lukashenka regime's destabilizing impact on regional security. The United States condemned the regime's complicity in Russia's war against Ukraine and highlighted meaningful steps taken to expose and cut off the flow of crucial support and components through Belarus that have helped fuel Russia's aggression.
The United States supports the aspirations of the Belarusian people for a sovereign, democratic future, and salutes the tens of thousands of courageous Belarusians who have taken, and continue to take, incalculable risks in pursuit of their freedom.
