🚨 YOUR VOICE NEEDED: CONGRESS SEEKS TESTIMONIES
The US Congress is investigating how authoritarian regimes weaponize financial regulations against American donors supporting democracy. WE NEED YOUR INPUT.
📢 WHY YOUR TESTIMONY MATTERS Chairman #McGovern asked me directly: "Your testimony calls for the Treasury Department to issue a financial crimes enforcement network advisory highlighting foreign governments' misuse of anti-money laundering/anti-terrorism financing tools to target U.S. entities and residents in transnational repression. Has the Treasury Department made any steps in this regard? If not, what do you think is a productive pressure point?"
This question shows Congress recognizes that the case of American philanthropist Barlyk #Mendygaziyev demonstrates a terrifying trend:
🔻His brother Bekizhan imprisoned in #Kazakhstan as RETALIATION for Barlyk's pro-democracy advocacy 🔻US banks terminated their financial services based on Kazakhstan's false claims and accusations 🔻Kazakhstan exploited AML/CFT laws to silence American donors
🎯 THE BIGGER PICTURE When authoritarian regimes can: 🔻Turn US financial institutions against democracy donors 🔻Weaponize "anti-extremism", AML, cybersecurity laws and international cooperation mechanisms against civil society and donors transnationally and domestically 🔻Take family members hostage to silence advocacy
Every donor, activist, and NGO becomes vulnerable transnationally
💪 WHY DEFENDING DONORS IS CRITICAL
🔻Democracy movements NEED financial support 🔻Majority of the prodemocracy donors are U.S. philanthropists. They are at risk of being criminalized for supporting human rights if no remedies established 🔻Kazakhstan's playbook is being copied by other autocrats 🔻US financial system is being turned against democracy itself
📝 WHAT CONGRESS NEEDS FROM YOU Submit testimonies/recommendations on:
🔻How financial debanking affects pro-democracy work in your country 🔻Your experiences with weaponized AML compliance 🔻Policy recommendations to protect legitimate donors 🔻Cases of authoritarian abuse of US financial systems or U.S. financial intelligence (I will explain more in the next post)
🔗 WE HELP YOU TO SUBMIT Information to the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission:
🔻Send your story to me 🔻Reference: [mention your country] Transnational Financial Repression 🔻Deadline: end of July 2025
When autocrats can silence American donors, democracy loses its lifeline. Your voice can help Congress close these dangerous loopholes.
#DefendDonors #TransnationalRepression #TransnationalFinancialRepression #Congress #Democracy #HumanRights #Philanthropy #CivilSociety #TomLantos #USCongress #AML #CFT