Конгресс США. Фото: wikipedia.org
The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the U.S. Congress will hold hearings on the human rights situation in Belarus, focusing on political prisoners and the ongoing repression of civil society on February 3, 2026.
The press release notes that “Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for a hearing on the human rights situation in Belarus. Since 2020, the Government of Belarus — a dictatorship led by Alexander Lukashenko for more than 30 years — has been engaged in an ongoing crackdown on democratic opposition.”
The crackdown intensified following the mass peaceful protests that erupted after the 2020 presidential election, which was widely criticised for irregularities and lack of transparency. Although opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya gained broad popular support in that contest, Belarusian authorities nevertheless declared Alexander Lukashenko the winner, a result rejected by a large part of the population.
According to the Viasna Human Rights Center, a Belarusian nongovernmental organisation, “since the 2020 election protests more than 50,000 people have been subjected to political arrest or detention, and 4,060 individuals have been recognised as political prisoners. The UN Human Rights Office estimated in 2024 that up to 300,000 people had fled Belarus since 2020, including Tsikhanouskaya.”
The official notice also states that “During this period, Belarusian authorities have further tightened restrictions on the exercise of fundamental human rights and freedoms.”
The article reports that “however, despite the continued repression, since 2025 Belarusian authorities have released 123 political prisoners in connection with diplomatic negotiations with the Trump administration.” This reflects the U.S. government’s description that, “Belarusian authorities have, since 2025, released 123 political prisoners, in connection with diplomatic engagement involving the Trump administration.”
In addition, the official description notes: “Beginning in July 2024, Belarusian authorities initiated a series of pardons, freeing more than 300 prisoners, according to human rights reporting. The Trump administration has engaged diplomatically in support of these releases, including by relaxing certain sanctions on Belarusian potash exports. Those freed include U.S. citizen Yuri Zenkovich and Andrey Kuznechyk, a journalist with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.”
The official notice also cites ongoing developments, for example: “In June 2025, opposition figure Siarhei Tsikhanouski was released after five years of imprisonment, along with other prominent prisoners such as Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski…”
Despite these releases, the Commission emphasises that “more than 1,100 political prisoners remain incarcerated, and the Belarusian democracy movement continues to operate largely in exile.”
During the hearings, participants will discuss violations of human rights in Belarus, the U.S. government’s response, and possible recommendations for Congress. Among the scheduled speakers are former political prisoner Siarhei Tsikhanouski, Dzianis Kuchynski, head of the international affairs department and diplomatic advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and Vytis Jurkonis, director of Freedom House in Lithuania.
The hearings will be held in person and are open to members of Congress, congressional staff, the public, and the media, with a livestream available on the Commission’s website.