On behalf of the United States of America, I send my heartfelt wishes to the people of Belarus on their official Independence Day.
Those living in Belarus and those forced to leave their lives and loved ones behind in exile all deserve the opportunity to choose their own future. To those striving to help your communities achieve a society free of violence and repression, your dedication to providing a better life for your people is an inspiration to the world. We honor the courage of the 1,500 Belarusian political prisoners held captive simply for trying to exercise the freedoms independence is supposed to convey. We call for their unconditional release and our thoughts are particularly with their loved ones on this day.
We stand with those who light the path to an independent, democratic, and sovereign Belarus, and we will continue to elevate their voices as they bravely persist through these difficult times.