The Foreign Service Journal, December 2022

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2022 47 Mark Palmer Award for the Advancement of Democracy RaeJean Stokes Boosting a Fledgling Democracy Movement in Belarus I n support of Belarussian civil society groups and opposi- tion forces, RaeJean Stokes’ exceptional leadership and creative diplomatic engagement significantly contributed to strengthening the country’s fledgling democracy and combat- ing authoritarianism under the Aleksandr Lukashenko regime. While serving as Belarus desk officer from 2020 to 2022, Ms. Stokes drove U.S. support for opposition leadership and dem- ocratic institutions, worked with colleagues to leverage public diplomacy tools, and provided a strong and clear response in the face of egregious human rights violations. When Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was pushed out of Belarus after most likely defeating 27-year-incumbent Lukashenko, she became a champion for pro-democracy forces; Ms. Stokes recognized that a Wash- ington visit for the emerging leader would show U.S. support for the pro-democracy movement and send a strong signal to the Lukashenko regime that the U.S. would not work with him. Ms. Stokes gained interagency buy-in for high-level meet- ings for Tsikhanouskaya in 2021, including with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sulli- van. She also secured a meeting with President Joe Biden—the first presidential meeting with a Belarusian leader since 1994. These meetings helped give Tsikhanouskaya the boost of confidence she needed to continue leading democratic oppo- sition forces while her husband, and many of her colleagues and supporters, remained in jail in Minsk. Ms. Stokes says the gesture was a vital one: “When I saw how much our principled support meant to the brave mem- bers of Belarus’ democratic forces, particularly after Tsikha- nouskaya’s historic visit to the White House, I was—and remain—inspired. The path to democracy can be difficult, and I am honored I was able to play a small part in Belarus’ journey.” When the Lukashenko regime’s unwillingness to partici- pate in diplomatic dialogue with the U.S. Embassy in Minsk challenged American engagement in support of democratic institutions, Ms. Stokes identified public diplomacy—and pub- lic statements from the State Department, in particular—as a viable tool to send crucial messages to Minsk. Working closely with colleagues in the Press Office and across the interagency, Ms. Stokes helped craft public mes- sages that highlighted America’s commitment to human rights. For example, in 2020, when the Lukashenko regime impris- oned the Belarus-born spouse of a U.S. diplomat serving as an independent journalist, on baseless charges, Ms. Stokes worked with the Office of Hostage Affairs and Consular Affairs to secure his release. Through discreet diplomacy, culminat- ing in a call from Secretary Mike Pompeo to Lukashenko himself, Ms. Stokes played a pivotal role in convincing the regime to release the journalist from jail. Her carefully drafted messaging, analysis of the regime’s tactics and motivations, and persistence in the face of challenges made this outcome possible. When Tsikhanouskaya returned to Washington in the spring of 2022, Ms. Stokes again galvanized interagency sup- port for high-level meetings to demonstrate continued U.S. government commitment to Belarusian democratic opposition, which now operates from Vilnius, Lithuania. While the Deputy Secretary agreed to meet Tsikhanouskaya during her second visit, a meeting with the Secretary of State initially seemed out of reach due to scheduling conflicts. Ms. Stokes delivered a different outcome. Recognizing how critical a photo and pull-aside with the RaeJean Stokes. When I saw how much our principled support meant to the brave members of Belarus’ democratic forces, particularly after Tsikhanouskaya’s historic visit to the White House, I was— and remain—inspired. —RaeJean Stokes