U.S. Expresses Concern Over Abduction Of Opposition Leaders In Belarus

…Calls on Belarusian authorities to end the violence against their own people

United States has expressed deep concern over the reported abduction on September 7 in Belarus,of Coordination Council member Mariya Kalesnikava, Spokesman Anton Rodnenkou, and Executive Secretary Ivan Krautsou, and the attempted forced expulsion over the border to Ukraine on September 8, 2020.

This contained in a press statement issued on Tuesday by the Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo.

“We commend the courage of Ms. Kalesnikava and of the Belarusian people in peacefully asserting their right to pick their leaders in free and fair elections in the face of unjustified violence and repression by the Belarusian authorities, which included brazen beatings of peaceful marchers in broad daylight and hundreds of detentions September 6, as well as increasing reports of abductions,” Pompeo said.

According to him, the United States, in coordination with its partners and Allies, is considering additional targeted sanctions to promote accountability for those involved in human rights abuses and repression in Belarus.

“We remind the Belarusian authorities of their responsibility to ensure the safety of Ms. Kalesnikava and all those unjustly detained.

“We call on the Belarusian authorities to end the violence against their own people, release all those who have been unjustly detained, including U.S. citizen Vitali Shkliarov, and engage in meaningful dialogue with genuine representatives of Belarusian society.”