The United States condemned the regime of authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka of Belarus, saying it was “unjustly holding over 1,500 political prisoners.” The State Department said it made the remarks on the eve of the Day of Solidarity with Belarusian Political Prisoners. "These men and women have been arrested and incarcerated for exercising their human rights and fundamental freedoms in pursuit of Belarusian democracy, for protesting a fraudulent election, or for opposing Russia’s war against Ukraine,” the statement issued on May 20 said.
