Under Secretary Zeya’s Meeting with the Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation

Office of the Spokesperson

Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights Uzra Zeya met today with six Belarusian Olympians and National Athletes representing the Belarusian Sports Solidarity Foundation (BSSF). The group included Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, the Belarusian Olympian whom Belarusian authorities attempted to forcibly repatriate from the Olympic Games in Tokyo last summer after she criticized the Belarusian National Olympic Committee on social media.

During the meeting, Under Secretary Zeya conveyed her admiration for the courage of Belarusian athletes who have faced reprisals for exercising their right to freedom of expression. She reiterated strong U.S. support for the Belarusian people’s democratic aspirations and commitment to promoting accountability for perpetrators of abuses against Belarusians in the country and abroad.