Petition to U.S. Lawmakers: Demand the Release of Belarusian Political Prisoners, Including Mikola Statkevich

We, the undersigned, call on the United States Congress and administration officials to take urgent and decisive action in defense of human rights in Belarus.

In September 2025, Belarusian authorities released 52 political prisoners following negotiations with the United States. Among them was Mikola Statkevich, a former presidential candidate and one of the country’s most respected opposition figures. However, when pressured to leave Belarus for exile, Statkevich refused. He chose to remain in his homeland—a principled act of courage that was met with renewed imprisonment under unclear and likely unlawful circumstances.

Today, Mikola Statkevich remains in isolation. His family has not heard from him in nearly two years. His case is emblematic of the broader repression under Aliaksandr Lukashenka’s regime, which continues to silence dissent, violate international norms, and punish those who dare to speak out.

We urge U.S. lawmakers to:

Publicly condemn the re-arrest of Mikola Statkevich and demand his immediate release.
Call for the liberation of all political prisoners in Belarus.
Increase diplomatic and economic pressure on the Lukashenko regime until these demands are met.
Support Belarusian civil society and independent media working under extreme conditions.
Freedom is not a privilege—it is a right. The United States must stand firmly with those who defend it, even when doing so comes at great personal cost.