Bill Summary
This resolution, passed by the Senate, expresses their condemnation and concern for the ongoing political repression in Belarus, particularly in the wake of the fraudulent presidential election in August 2020. It notes the undemocratic dictatorship of Alyaksandr Lukashenka and his regime's actions to jail and suppress opposition candidates and protestors. The resolution also acknowledges the widespread international concern over the legitimacy of the election and the continued pressure, harassment, and imprisonment of opposition leaders and activists. It also condemns the Lukashenka regime's support for Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine and calls for new, fair elections in Belarus. The resolution also recognizes the efforts of other countries in supporting the pro-democracy movement in Belarus and encourages the appointment of a new Special Envoy for Belarus by the President.
Possible Impacts
1. The legislation highlights the undemocratic rule of dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka in Belarus and the persecution and imprisonment of political opponents and activists by his regime. This could affect the people of Belarus by limiting their freedom of expression and political participation, and risking their safety and well-being.
2. The legislation condemns the support provided by Belarus to Russian President Putin's war in Ukraine. This could affect the people of Belarus by potentially causing tension and conflict with neighboring countries, and diverting resources and attention away from domestic issues and needs.
3. The legislation calls for new elections to be held in Belarus and for the immediate release of political prisoners. This could affect the people of Belarus by potentially leading to a change in leadership and a more democratic government, and allowing for the safe return of exiled individuals and the restoration of their rights.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 708 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 708
Expressing the sense of the Senate on the political repression in
Belarus on the two-year anniversary of the August 2020, fraudulent
presidential election.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 13, 2022
Mr. Durbin (for himself, Mr. Tillis, Mrs. Shaheen, Mrs. Fischer, Mr.
Van Hollen, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Markey, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Kaine, and Mr.
Coons) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Senate on the political repression in
Belarus on the two-year anniversary of the August 2020, fraudulent
presidential election.
Whereas Alyaksandr Lukashenka has ruled Belarus as an undemocratic dictatorship
since the first presidential election in Belarus in 1994, dismantling
the democratic institutions of Belarus and seeking to jail those who
compete against him in presidential elections or protest his
authoritarian regime;
Whereas the Lukashenka regime jailed leading opposition candidates that
attempted to compete in the August 9, 2020, presidential election in
Belarus;
Whereas Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya ran in the August 9, 2020, presidential
election after the jailing of her husband, opposition candidate Siarhei
Tsikhanouski, and was widely seen as the legitimate winner by the
international community;
Whereas the August 9, 2020, presidential election, in which Lukashenka claimed
victory, was marred by widespread concern over its legitimacy, as noted
by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the
European Council, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,
the Department of State, and reputable international human rights
groups;
Whereas the Senate, as expressed in Senate Resolution 658 (116th Congress) and
Senate Resolution 345 (117th Congress), both of which passed with
unanimous support, has stated its deep concern regarding the most recent
fraudulent election that took place in Belarus on August 9, 2020;
Whereas, in response to the August 9, 2020, fraudulent presidential election,
the people of Belarus staged the largest and longest sustained public
protests in the history of the country, calling for a democratic
Belarus;
Whereas, since the August 9, 2020, fraudulent presidential election, the
Lukashenka regime has continued to pressure, harass, imprison, and
persecute opposition leaders, civil society activists, human rights
defenders, and independent media;
Whereas, according to the Viasna Human Rights Centre, the Government of Belarus
has continued to keep at least 1,244 people imprisoned on politically
motivated charges or under false pretense of terrorist threat, including
opposition candidate Siarhei Tsikhanouski, who was sentenced to 18 years
in prison;
Whereas Russia provided critical support to the Lukashenka regime following the
repression of the protests that followed the August 9, 2020, fraudulent
presidential election, backing the Lukashenka regime's efforts to
prevent the emergence of a democratic Belarus, including through the
provision of financial assistance, propaganda support, and offers of
military assistance;
Whereas, on May 23, 2021, the Government of Belarus unlawfully forced the
landing of Ryanair Flight 4978 in Minsk to arrest journalist and
activist Raman Pratasevich and his partner Sofia Sapega;
Whereas, since July 7, 2021, the Government of Belarus has weaponized vulnerable
migrants by manufacturing a border crisis with Latvia, Lithuania, and
Poland in retaliation for sanctions imposed by the European Union;
Whereas, on February 24, 2022, Russia launched an unprovoked war against
Ukraine, using Belarus as a launching pad for its attack;
Whereas the Lukashenka regime has continued to allow Belarus to be used by
Russian President Vladimir Putin for his illegal and unprovoked war
against Ukraine, including via a sham February 27, 2022, constitutional
referendum on provisions to enable Belarus to host nuclear weapons and
undo Belarus' decades-long commitment to neutrality;
Whereas, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Lukashenka has met with Vladimir
Putin on at least four separate occasions, including most recently on
June 25, 2022, when Putin pledged to supply Belarus with missile systems
capable of carrying nuclear weapons;
Whereas, despite support from the Lukashenka regime for Putin's war in Ukraine,
hundreds of brave Belarusians have joined together to defend Ukraine,
both on the battlefield in Ukraine and in the disruption of Russian
supply lines;
Whereas the United States and allies of the United States have imposed sanctions
on the Lukashenka regime for the August 9, 2020, fraudulent presidential
election and ensuing repression as well as support for Putin's war in
Ukraine;
Whereas, on December 15, 2020, Julie Fisher was confirmed by the Senate as
Ambassador to Belarus, but her credentials were not accepted by the
Lukashenka regime, resulting in President's Biden decision in October
2021 to appoint Mrs. Fisher as Special Envoy for Belarus; and
Whereas Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, in exile in
Lithuania, continues to represent the widely shared desire of the
Belarusian people for free and fair elections and democracy: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) continues, on the second anniversary of the fraudulent
presidential election that took place in Belarus on August 9,
2020, to refuse to recognize Alyaksandr Lukashenka as the
legitimately elected leader of Belarus;
(2) condemns the ongoing harassment and persecution of
opposition leaders, civil society activists, human rights
defenders, and independent media carried out by the Lukashenka
regime, and urges the immediate release, without preconditions,
of all political prisoners in Belarus, including Siarhei
Tsikhanouski, as well as for all representatives of democratic
forces, civil society, and independent media in exile to be
able to return home without fear of persecution or prosecution;
(3) calls for new presidential and parliamentary elections
to be held in Belarus, conducted in a manner that meets
international standards and includes independent election
monitoring;
(4) condemns the shameful and self-serving support provided
by the Lukashenka regime for Russian President Putin's savage
war in Ukraine;
(5) welcomes continued and coordinated sanctions imposed by
the United States and European Union and other tools to support
democracy in Belarus;
(6) recognizes the extraordinary support offered by the
Governments of Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine to support the
people of Belarus, including support for the political
opposition, accommodation of political refugees, and backing of
independent media;
(7) encourages President Biden to swiftly appoint a new
Special Envoy for Belarus to support the pro-democracy
movement; and
(8) stands in solidarity with the many brave Belarusians,
such as Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who continue to strive for a
free and democratic Belarus.
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