Congressional Record—House H4386
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H4386 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 15, 2020 senior centers provide for the elderly. I Mr. Speaker, included in these ar- detainees, inhumane detainment conditions, stand today to recognize all the hard rests are several opposition leaders, in- persecution of political opposition and jour- work and dedications these centers cluding former presidential candidates nalists.) 8. Ivan Kubrakov, Director of Minsk police provide throughout the First District Sergei Tikhanovsky, Viktar Babaryka, department (Notes: Commission of acts of vi- of Kentucky. Coordination Council members Liliya olence against peaceful protesters, portrait f Vlasova, Sergei Dylevsky, Maria detainees, inhumane detainment conditions, Kalesnikava, and Maxim Znak, as well JUSTICE FOR ALL persecution of political opposition and jour- as several of their staff and volunteers, nalists.) The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the opposi- 9. Roman Golovchenko, Prime Minister Chair recognizes the gentleman from tion presidential nominee, was forced (Notes: Organization of falsification of elec- Texas (Mr. GREEN) for 5 minutes. to flee the country, as was opposition tions.) Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, 10. Igor Sergeenko, Head of presidential ad- leader Veronika Tsepkalo and her hus- ministration (Notes: Organization of fal- and still I rise, as a liberated Democrat band, former presidential nominee, sification of elections.) to say that the moral movement for Valery Tsepkalo. 11. Viktor Sheyman, Chief Manager of the justice everywhere cannot condone in- None of the dissidents have been President (Notes: Persecution of political op- justice anywhere. We cannot allow our- given a fair trial, and all of them have ponents of Alexander Lukashenko.) selves to be induced to believe that had their human rights denied. As I 12. Dimitriy Pavlichenko, Head of the As- there is a binary choice, that we must think about the current situation in sociation of Veterans of the Special Forces choose either peace officers or peaceful of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ex-com- Belarus, I am reminded of President mander of Military Unit 3214; Ex-commander protesters. Ronald Reagan’s speech to Soviet dis- of SOBR. (Notes: Unofficially commanded No, there is a righteous choice. And sidents at Spaso House in 1988. Presi- the special forces who violently dispersed the righteous choice will cause us to dent Reagan made two things clear protesters in Minsk.) conclude that we must choose justice that day: The United States’ commit- 13. Ivan Tertel, Chairman of the State Con- for the police just as we choose justice ment to human rights are, and will trol Committee (Notes: The official initiator for the protestors. Crimes committed continue to be, fundamental and un- of the Belgazprombank case and the arrest of against the police must be punished wavering, and that through strength, presidential candidate Viktor Babariko and crimes committed by the police along with his relatives, friends, and employ- determination, and prayer, there is ees.) must be punished. nothing you cannot conquer. 14. Oleg Slizhevsky, Minister of Justice We are a Nation of laws, and if the Reagan also said in that speech, (Notes: Sanctions imposed by extension to law is to prevail, all criminals must be ‘‘While we press for human rights leading officials on account of the punished. But not only must they be through diplomatic channels, you press Belarusian government’s suppression of free punished; they must be punished expe- with your very lives, day in, day out, and fair elections and subsequent abuses.) ditiously against those who commit year after year, risking your jobs, your 15. Petr Miklashevich, President of the crimes against people just as we would homes, your all.’’ Constitutional Court (Notes: Sanctions im- have them be punished expeditiously posed by extension to leading officials on ac- Mr. Speaker, while the people of count of the Belarusian government’s sup- against those who commit crimes Belarus continue their tireless fight for pression of free and fair elections and subse- against the police. ‘‘Injustice any- human rights, the United States should quent abuses.) where,’’ as Dr. King put it, ‘‘is a threat be working with our European partners 16. Valentin Sukalo, President of the Su- to justice everywhere.’’ and allies to impose new sanctions on preme Court (Notes: Sanctions imposed by Mr. Speaker, I stand and I rise as a those responsible not only for voter re- extension to leading officials on account of liberated Democrat to say we cannot pression, but also for the violent crack- the Belarusian government’s suppression of condone crimes against the police nor downs that follow the election. free and fair elections and subsequent abuses.) can we condone crimes committed by Mr. Speaker, I include in the RECORD 17. Aleksandr Konyuk, Prosecutor General the police. a list of 28 individuals. (Notes: Provision of official justification for f BELARUS SANCTIONS RECOMMENDATIONS the brutal crackdowns on protesters and in- SOLIDARITY WITH BELARUS 1. Alexander Lukashenko, President volvement in the manufactured prosecution (Notes: Ordering the blatant falsification of of members of the opposition.) The SPEAKER pro tempore. The presidential voting, commission of acts of vi- 18. Ivan Noskevish, Chairman of the Inves- Chair recognizes the gentleman from olence against peaceful protesters, torture of tigative Committee (Notes: Falsification of Illinois (Mr. SHIMKUS) for 5 minutes. detainees, inhumane detainment conditions, criminal cases against protesters.) Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise persecution of political opponents and jour- 19. Vladimir Karanik, Minister of Health (Notes: Dissemination of misinformation today in strong solidarity with the nalists.) 2. Lydia Yermishina, Chairwoman, Central about the orchestration of medical protests.) citizens and the political dissidents of Election Commission (Notes: Multiple cases 20. Ivan Eysmont, Chairman of State Belarus. of election fraud and falsification, criminal Broadcasting ‘‘Belteleradiocompany’’ (Notes: On August 9, 2020, Belarus held its misconduct concerning the tabulation of bal- Organization of falsification of elections.) presidential election with its incum- ance and miss reporting election results.) 21. Igor Lutskiy, Minister of Information bent President, Alexander Lukashenko, 3. Yuriy Karaev, Minister of Interior (Notes: Organization of falsification of elec- claiming victory with over 80 percent (Notes: Commission of acts of violence tions.) of the vote. Both the United States and against peaceful protesters, torture of de- 22. Viktor Hrenin, Minister of Defense (Notes: Sanctions imposed by extension to the European Union have called the tainees, inhumane detainment conditions, persecution of political opposition and jour- leading officials on account of the elections ‘‘neither fair or free,’’ as the nalists.) Belarusian government’s suppression of free Lukashenko regime restricted ballot 4. Valeriy Vakaluchik, Director, KGB and fair elections and subsequent abuses.) access for candidates, prohibited local (Notes: Ordering and implementing acts of 23. Major General Yuri Nazarenko, Deputy independent observers, and employed violence against peaceful protesters, torture Minister of the Interior and Commander of intimidation tactics against opposition of detainees, inhumane detainment condi- the Interior Armed Forces, former Chief of candidates. tions, persecution of political opposition and Staff of the Lukashenko Security Service (Notes: Commission of acts of violence Mass protests erupted following the journalists.) 5. Viktor Lukashenko, counselor to the against peaceful protesters, torture of de- election. Tens of thousands of president on national security (Notes: Orga- tainees, inhumane detainment conditions, protestors took to the street to express nization and implementation of violence persecution of political opposition and jour- their disapproval of Lukashenko and against peaceful protesters, torture of de- nalists.) his administration. His regime re- tainees, inhumane detainment conditions, 24. Vladimir Zhiznevsky, Commander of sponded with excessive force to quell persecution of political opposition and jour- the Internal Army Unit No. 3214 (Notes: the protests, including the use of live nalists.) Commission of acts of violence against and rubber ballots, leading to thou- 6. Dimitri Lukashenko, son of Alexander peaceful protesters, torture of detainees, in- Lukashenko (Notes: Sanctions imposed by humane detainment conditions, persecution sands of Belarusian citizens being ei- extension to family members.) of political opposition and journalists.) ther detained or arrested. It appears 7. Dimitriy Balaba, special police unit, 25. Alexander Bykov, Commander of the likely that violent crackdowns will Minsk (Notes: Commission of acts of vio- Special Rapid Reaction Force (COBP) (Notes: continue. lence against peaceful protesters, torture of Commission of acts of violence against VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:50 Sep 16, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K15SE7.002 H15SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE September 15, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4387 peaceful protesters, torture of detainees, in- But what inspires me most about Leroy was a legend in the city of humane detainment conditions, persecution Patrick is that in the midst of this Springfield, both in and out of the of political opposition and journalists.) awful situation, he saw an opportunity classroom. He was active