,,iv #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,,res4 #aaaa ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,september #ae1 #bjbj,mr4 ,keating 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,kinzinger1 ,ms4 ,kaptur1 ,mr4 ,fitzpatrick1 ,mr4 ,langevin1 ,mr4 ,ted ,lieu of ,california1 ,mr4 ,raskin1 ,mrs4 ,wagner1 ,mr4 ,meeks1 ,mr4 ,cohen1 ,mr4 ,trone1 ,mr4 ,costa1 and ,mr4 ,cicilline7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs ,,resolution ,supporting the people of ,belarus and their democratic aspirations and condemning the election rigging and subsequent violent crackdowns on peaceful protestors by the ,government of the ,republic of ,belarus4 ,whereas the ,republic of ,belarus held a presidential election on ,august #i1 #bjbj1 that was widely considered to be neither free nor fair2 ,whereas official election results released by ,belarusian government officials and the unofficial exit polls conducted by domestic observers and members of civil society presented substantially divergent data2 ,whereas in the months leading up to the election1 ,belarusian authorities had arbitrarily detained over #a1cjj people1 including activists and journalists participating in peaceful protests2 ,whereas within the first #e days of the protests following the ,august #ith election1 nearly #g1jjj peaceful protestors and journalists had been detained in ,belarus2 ,whereas1 as of ,september #a1 #bjbj1 the ,united ,nations ,office of the ,high ,commissioner for ,human ,rights had received #dej documented cases of torture and ill-treatment by detainees2 ,whereas these peaceful demonstrations were met with violence from security services that employed barricades1 stun grenades1 tear gas1 rubber bullets1 and1 at times1 live ammunition2 ,whereas ,amnesty ,international and local human rights groups said they have collected horrifying testimonies from protesters in ,belarus who describe being tortured or subjected to other ill-treatment in detention centers1 including being stripped naked1 beaten1 and threatened with rape2 ,whereas1 as of ,august #be1 #bjbj1 dozens of protestors remained missing and at least #d ,belarusians had been killed in violence related to the demonstrations2 ,whereas ,belarusians continue to share real-time videos and other content documenting the brutal crackdown on peaceful demonstrations through social media2 ,whereas1 on ,august #cj1 #bjbj1 the ,government of ,belarus revoked the accreditation of #ai international journalists and deported #b others2 ,whereas in the days and weeks that followed1 a grassroots movement of ,belarusians has demonstrated against the official electoral results and demanded new elections2 ,whereas demonstrators have included people from all parts of ,belarusian society1 including men1 women1 and children1 students and workers1 the young and the old1 and police officers who quit their service in the wake of the protests2 ,whereas women have played a critical role in the protest movement in ,belarus as demonstrators rallied behind #c key female opposition leaders and women have gathered and marched together across the country2 ,whereas across the ,republic of ,belarus1 workers from state-owned companies and factories have gone on strike in solidarity with the demonstrators2 ,whereas1 on ,august #bc1 #bjbj1 it is estimated that nearly #bjj1jjj protestors gathered in ,minsk1 making it the largest protest in ,belarusian history2 ,whereas the constitution of ,belarus provides that the people of ,belarus recognize themselves as a full-fledged subject of the international community and believe in their inalienable right to self-determination2 and ,whereas daily peaceful protests continue across the country as demonstrators can be heard chanting the lyrics of the demonstrators' unofficial campaign song3 ,our hearts are longing for changes2 ,our eyes are longing for changes2 ,it's in our laugh and in our tears2 ,and it's pulsing through our veins2 ,changes1 we are longing for changes43 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,house of ,representatives-- 7#a7 finds that the ,august #i1 #bjbj1 presidential election in ,belarus was neither free nor fair and1 therefore1 does not recognize the government-announced results2 7#b7 affirms that the people of ,belarus have the right to determine the future of ,belarus without intervention from outside actors2 7#c7 condemns the human rights violations committed by ,belarusian authorities1 including against peaceful demonstrators1 activists1 opposition leaders1 medical personnel1 and journalists2 7#d7 calls for the ,government of ,belarus to immediately release all those detained in connection with the demonstrations or others unlawfully detained for reporting on or protesting abuses by the ,belarusian government and halt any further acts of violence against civilians1 including peaceful demonstrators1 activists1 opposition leaders1 medical personnel1 and journalists2 7#e7 calls for the protection of civil society actors and members of the opposition against arbitrary arrest and violence while conducting peaceful discussion relating to political transitions2 7#f7 recognizes the sacrifices and bravery of the ,belarusian people and the incredible organization by ,belarusian women to peacefully demand a free and fair democratic process while enduring the state-sponsored violence that followed the ,august #i1 #bjbj1 election2 7#g7 calls on the ,government of ,belarus to engage in an open and constructive dialogue with the people of ,belarus and individuals representing their interests2 7#h7 calls for targeted sanctions against ,belarusian authorities who committed human rights violations and authorities from the electoral commission who engaged in activities that resulted in the falsification of the ,august #i1 #bjbj1 election results2 7#i7 urges ,united ,states sanctions and other efforts in continued close coordination with the ,european ,union and ,european ,union member states to respond to the ongoing events in ,belarus2 7#aj7 calls for an international investigation into the human rights abuses committed during and after the ,august #i1 #bjbj1 presidential election2 7#aa7 continues to support the aspirations of the people of ,belarus for democracy1 human rights1 and the rule of law and reaffirms that the fulfillment of such aspirations is the only way to ensure the continued strength of ,belarusian sovereignty and territorial integrity2 7#ab7 affirms that the people of ,belarus must be provided the self-determination to choose their own leaders through a truly free and fair election under independent observation2 and 7#ac7 emphasizes that only a peaceful and democratic process will provide sustainable solutions for the people of ,belarus4