The United States “stands with the people of Belarus in their quest for democracy and universal human rights.” So tweeted President Joe Biden after meeting on July 28 with Belarus democracy leader Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya, deemed by most observers to have been the real winner of last August’s presidential election. Alexander Lukashenko, the country’s criminal dictator for the past 27 years, fraudulently claimed victory and then launched a brutal crackdown against peaceful demonstrators. He hangs on to power thanks to support from Russia’s like-minded leader Vladimir Putin but continues to pose a risk to those who criticize and challenge him.
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In this photo released by the White House, US President Joe Biden meets with Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya at the White House in Washington, DC, on July 28, 2021.
