U.S. Congress to urge IIHF not to hold World Cup in Minsk

The US Senate approved the Belarus Democracy and Human Rights Act of 2011, initiated by Christopher Smith, a US republican senator and chairman of the Helsinki Commission.

The act condemns the recent human rights violations, beatings, arrests of opposition activists and presidential candidates, fraudulent election campaigns, pressure on independent media and harassment of ethnic and religious minorities.

The US Congress insists on the immediate release without preconditions of all political prisoners in Belarus, supports the aspirations of the people of Belarus for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, supports the aspirations of the people of Belarus to preserve the independence and sovereignty of their country.

The Congress calls on the International Ice Hockey Federation to suspend its plan to hold the 2014 International World Ice Hockey championship in Minsk until the Government of Belarus releases all political prisoners.

 

Advanced player search

Tweets by @eurohockey