Issues of human rights and political prisoners in Belarus are main topics at Alaksandr Milinkievich’s meetings in Washington
The Movement for Freedom (the MFF) leader continues his meetings with representatives of US political elite.
Yesterday, the MFF leader met the President of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) Kenneth Wollack, the President of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) Carl Gershman, congressman Thaddeus McCotter, senator John McCain, the head of the Department on Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus of the Department of State Lawrence Silberman, and the head of the Department on Russia of the National Security Council Leslie Hayden.
Numerous issues on the situation in Belarus and around it were discussed during the talk. Alaksandr Milinkievich gave his assessment of the current condition of the Belarusian economy and society, as well as of the relations between Belarus and its neighbours. Milinkievich expressed his gratitude to the US, and called on his interlocutors to continue the policy of support of democracy and of the civil society in Belarus at the crucial moment of fight against dictatorship and of struggle for the independence of Belarus.
“Our first and implicit demand to the regime is to release political prisoners and to put an end to repressions against civil activists. It’s very important that our Western partners regularly remind the representatives of the authorities of this during their contacts”, the MFF leader pointed out.
Today, Milinkievich meets the principal deputy assistant secretary of state for democracy and human Karen Steward (former US ambassador to Belarus), the head of the US Helsinki Commission congressman Alcee Hastings, the author of the Belarus Democracy Act congressman Christopher Smith, the head of the Eurasia Program of the International Republican Institute (IRI) Stephen Nix, the management of the Freedom House, and the Director on Belarus of the National Security Council Kristina Kvien. Milinkievich will also hold a briefing for journalists.
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