,,iii  #aaf? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  
,s4 ,,res4 #feh  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!
 ,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,july #bg1 #bjbj,mr4  
,durb9 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,c>d91 ,mr4     
,rubio1 ,mrs4 ,%ahe51 ,mr4 ,leahy1 ,mr4 
,m>key1 & ,mr4 ,udall7 submitt$ ! foll[+
 resolution2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to !          
,committee on ,=eign ,relations  ,augu/ 
#e1 #bjbj;,committee dis*>g$2 consid]$ &
 agre$ to  ,,resolution  ,call+ = a     
free1 fair1 & transp>5t presid5tial     
election 9 ,bel>us tak+ place on ,augu/ 
#i1 #bjbj1 includ+ ! unimp$$            
p>ticipation ( all presid5tial c&idates4
  ,:]eas long-t]m presid5t ,alyaks&r    
,luka%5ko has rul$ ,bel>us z an         
undemocratic dictator%ip s9ce ! fir/    
presid5tial election 9 ,bel>us 9 #aiid &
 is runn+ = a six? t]m 9 (fice2 ,:]eas !
 presid5tial elections 9 ,bel>us h be5  
nei!r free nor fair & h be5 reject$ by !
 int]national community z n meet+ m9imal
 electoral /&>ds2 ,:]eas ,bel>us aboli%$
 presid5tial t]m limits 9 a ref]5dum 9  
#bjjd1 & ,luka%5ko affirm$ 9 ,novemb]   

#bjai t he plans to run aga9 9 #bjbe2   
,:]eas1 9 ! mo/ rec5t #bjaj & #bjae     
presid5tial elections1 ,luka%5ko        
arbitr>ily disqualifi$ or jail$ key     
oppon5ts ahead ( & aft] ! elections2    
,:]eas1 9 ,m>* #bjaa1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates   
,s5ate unanim\sly pass$ a resolution    
condemn+ ! ,bel>usian elections z       
illegitimate & call+ on ! ,bel>usian    
regime to imm$iately release all        
political prison]s2 ,:]eas1 accord+ to !
 ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate #bjai ,c\ntry ,report
 on ,human ,rights ,practices = ,bel>us1
 ,luka%5ko has consolidat$ 8 rule ov]   
all in/itutions s9ce 8 fir/ t]m z       
presid5t & und]m9$ ! rule ( law ?r\gh   
au?orit>ian means1 includ+ manipulat$   
elections & arbitr>y decrees1 su* t all 
subsequ5t presid5tial elections fell    
well %ort ( int]national /&>ds2 ,:]eas !
 law ( ,bel>us provides citiz5s !       
ability to *oose _! gov]nm5t 9 free &   
fair p]iodic elections held by secret   
ballot & bas$ on univ]sal & equal       
suffrage1 b ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,bel>us has   

consi/5tly d5i$ citiz5s t ability2      
,:]eas flaw$ ref]5dums 9 #aiif & #bjjd  
am5d$ ! ,con/itution ( ,bel>us to broad5
 ! p[]s ( ,luka%5ko1 ext5d 8 t]m 9      
(fice1 & remove presid5tial t]m limits2 
,:]eas appe>ances by opposition         
politicians on /ate m$ia h hi/orically  
be5 limit$ & su* re/rictions h be5      
/rongly criticiz$ by ! ,(fice =         
,democratic ,in/itutions & ,human       
,rights ( ! ,organization = ,security & 
,co-op]ation 9 ,europe                  
7,,osce_/,,odihr71 :i* has n recogniz$  
any elections 9 ,bel>us z free & fair   
s9ce #aiie2 ,:]eas au?orities 9 ,bel>us 
r\t9ely imp$e ! activities & legal /atus
 ( opposition political p>ties by refus+
 to regi/] !m1 :ile all[+ approximately 
#f l>gely inactive b (ficially regi/]$  
pro-,luka%5ko political p>ties to op]ate
 freely2 ,:]eas ! ,c5tral ,election     
,commission ( ,bel>us 7,,cvk7           
disqualifi$ ! majority ( pot5tial       
c&idates f ! upcom+ ,augu/ #i1 #bjbj1   
presid5tial election = politically      

motivat$ purposes2 ,:]eas1 on ,june #cj1
 #bjbj1 ! ,c5tral ,election ,commission 
b>r$ ,val]y ,tsepkalo1 a =m] ,ambassador
 to ! ,unit$ ,/ates & ,fir/ ,deputy     
,m9i/] ( ,=eign ,affairs & "o ( ! major 
*all5g]s to ,luka%5ko1 f runn+ 9 !      
presid5tial election2 ,:]eas1 on ,may   
#f1 #bjbj1 popul> blogg] ,sy>hey        
,tsikhan\ski 0 arre/$ & jail$ = #ae days
 prior to a rally he _h plann$ = ,may   
#i1 #bjbj1 to *all5ge ! decision by     
,luka%5ko to hold a ,victory ,day       
milit>y p>ade despite ! coronavirus     
p&emic2 ,:]eas1 betwe5 ,may #f & ,june  
#af1 #bjbj1 c\rts 9 ,bel>us convict$ #ig
 individuals z "p ( a new wave (        
political p]secution = illegal prote/+ &
 s5t5c$ ^? individuals to v>i\s t]ms (  
det5tion = a total ( #a1bdf days1 :ile  
#aje individuals 7 f9$ a total ( #ij1jjj
 rubles1 approximately #dj1jjj ,unit$   
,/ates doll>s2 ,:]eas1 on ,may #ae1     
#bjbj1 ! ,c5tral ,election ,commission  
reject$ ! regi/ration docum5ts submitt$ 
by ,tsikhan\ski = 8 c&idacy = !         

presid5tial election2 ,:]eas1 on ,may   
#ai1 #bjbj1 ! ,c5tral ,election         
,commission reject$ ! c&idacy (         
opposition politician ,mikalay          
,/atkevi*1 :o previ\sly *all5g$         
,luka%5ko 9 #bjaj & 0 inc>c]at$ = #d    
ye>s & #h mon?s = prote/+ ! disput$     
election1 alleg$ly on ! basis ( 8       
crim9al record2 ,:]eas ,/atkevi* 0      
subsequ5tly s5t5c$ on ,june #a1 #bjbj1  
to #ae days 9 jail = tak+ "p 9 an       
unau?oriz$ opposition ev5t 9 ,m9sk to   
collect signatures = 8 c&idacy1 0 s5t5c$
 to ano!r #ae days on ,june #ae1 #bjbj1 
& /ill rema9s inc>c]at$ z ( ,july #bg1  
#bjbj2 ,:]eas1 on ,may #bb1 #bjbj1      
,human ,rights ,wat* report$ t betwe5   
,may #f & #ac1 #bjbj1 au?orities 9      
,bel>us arbitr>ily arre/$ ov] #abj      
peaceful prote/]s1 opposition blogg]s1  
j\rnali/s1 & o!r critics ( ! gov]nm5t 9 
#ag cities1 includ+ ,y\? ,block movem5t 
activi/s conc]n$ ab\t human rights &    
rule ( law 9 ,bel>us1 :i* is p>ticul>ly 
di/urb+ 9 light ( ! ,,covid-#ai p&emic2 

,:]eas1 on ,may #bi1 #bjbj1 ,tsikhan\ski
 0 arre/$ aga9 9 ,hrodna :ile collect+  
signatures = ! presid5tial c&idacy ( 8  
sp\se1 ,svyatlana ,tsikhan\skaya1 :o is 
runn+ 9 8 /ead1 & ,tsikhan\ski 0        
subsequ5tly *>g$ ) ! organization &     
prep>ation ( actions t sev]ely violat$  
public ord]2 ,:]eas1 on ,may #ca1 #bjbj1
 ,bel>usian human rights gr\p ,viasna   
7,spr+7 report$ t #ej opposition        
activi/s 7 arre/$ by police :ile !y 7   
ga!r+ signatures to all[ oppon5ts to    
p>ticipate 9 ! presid5tial election2    
,:]eas1 on ,june #h1 #bjbj1 ,paval      
,sevy>ynets1 co-*airman ( ! opposition  
,bel>usian ,*ri/ian ,democratic ,p>ty1 0
 s5t5c$ to #ae days 9 jail = support+   
indep5d5t presid5tial c&idates 9 rallies
 9 ,m9sk on ,june #g1 #bjbj1 &          
subsequ5tly1 on ,july #h1 #bjbj1 0      
s5t5c$ to a fif? consecutive #ae-;day   
jail t]m2 ,:]eas1 on ,june #ah1 #bjbj1  
au?orities arre/$ pot5tial presid5tial  
*all5g] ,vikt> ,bab>yka & 8 son1 ,edu>d1
 :o heads 8 presid5tial campaign2       

,:]eas1 on ,june #ai1 #bjbj1 ! ,european
 ,union issu$ a /atem5t call+ on !      
,gov]nm5t ( ,bel>us to imm$iately       
release ,bab>yka & 8 son & call$ = an   
imp>tial inve/igation into ! arre/s2    
,:]eas1 accord+ to ! ,bel>usian         
,association ( ,j\rnali/s1 on ,june #ai1
 #bjbj1 police (fic]s deta9$ at lea/ #ad
 j\rnali/s1 includ+ ,radio ,free        
,europe_/,radio ,lib]ty 7,,rfe_/,,rl7   
report] ,alyaks&ra ,dynko & cam]ap]son  
,&rey ,rab*yk1 :o 7 cov]+ prote/s aga9/ 
! ef=ts ( ,luka%5ko to und]m9e !        
electoral process2 ,:]eas1 on ,june #ai1
 #bjbj1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,embassy 9 ,m9sk
 urg$ ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,bel>us to uphold   
its int]national commitm5ts to respect  
fundam5tal fre$oms2 ,:]eas1 accord+ to !
 ,committee to ,protect ,j\rnali/s1 ov] 
#c days />t+ on ,june #be1 #bjbj1       
au?orities arre/$ sev]al blogg]s1       
includ+ ,ihor ,losik1 ,s]hei ,petrukh91 
,aleks&r ,kabanau1 ,volodimir ,n]onski1 
,aleks&r ,&reyev1 ,volodimir            
,tsiganovi*1 & ,s]hei ,sp>i%1 a move    

,amne/y ,int]national said repres5ts a  
full-scale purge ( diss5t+ voices2      
,:]eas1 on ,june #bd1 #bjbj1            
,repres5tative ,alcee ,l4 ,ha/+s1       
,*airman ( ! ,commission on ,security & 
,coop]ation 9 ,europe 7commonly kn[n z !
 ,hels9ki ,commission71 releas$ a       
/atem5t not+ t ,bel>usian au?orities h  
made x impossible to hold free & fair   
elections by arre/+ & intimidat+        
presid5tial c&idates1 j\rnali/s1 &      
activi/s 9 ! e>ly /ages ( campaign+1 &  
moreov]1 t t"h c be no free *oice :5 !  
sy/em is rigg$ 9 favor ( ! incumb5t1 &  
call$ ^u ,luka%5ko to ord] ! release (  
^? :o h be5 deta9$ = political reasons &
 all[ real political competition 9      
,bel>us2 ,:]eas1 on ,june #bi1 #bjbj1   
,amne/y ,int]national issu$ a /atem5t   
condemn+ t t"h is no safe environm5t =  
political debate 9 ,bel>us1 & !re is a  
gr[+ crackd[n on human rights 9 !       
context ( ! =?com+ election1 & moreov]1 
opposition c&idates along ) _! support]s
 are sme>$1 t>get$ & inc>c]at$ "u       

trump$-up *>ges1 ) wom5 p>ticul>ly      
t>get$2 ,:]eas1 on ,july #c1 #bjbj1 9 a 
/atem5t commemorat+ ! ,indep5d5ce ,day (
 ,bel>us1 ,secret>y ( ,/ate ,mike       
,pompeo urg$ ! gov]nm5t ( ,bel>us to d  
ev]y?+ 9 its p[] to ensure ! upcom+     
elections are free & fair1 includ+ ! "r 
( a div]se range ( c&idates to          
p>ticipate 9 ! campaign1 ! "r ( citiz5s 
to assemble peacefully & speak freely1 &
 op5 & fair ballot c\nt+2 ,:]eas1 on    
,july #ad1 #bjbj1 ! ,c5tral ,election   
,commission ultimately approv$ only #e  
c&idates to run 9 ! presid5tial         
election1 namely1 ,luka%5ko1 ,&rey      
,dzmitryyeu1 ,hanna ,kanapatskaya1      
,sy>hey ,*]a*an1 & ,tsikhan\skaya2      
,:]eas1 on ,july #ad1 #bjbj1 dur+       
prote/s ov] ! unju/ifi$ disqualification
 ( sev]al presid5tial c&idates1         
au?orities us$ unnecess>y & excessive   
=ce to deta9 at lea/ #bbj individuals   
across ! c\ntry2 ,:]eas1 on ,july #ad1  
#bjbj1 au?orities deta9$ at lea/ #ag    
j\rnali/s cov]+ prote/s 9 ,m9sk1 ,bre/1 

& ,homel1 includ+ ,katsi>yna ,&reeva 7& 
,ih> ,ilya% :5 he s\ght h] release7 )   
,pol&-regi/]$ broadca/] ,belsat ,,tv1   
,danil ,palyanski ) indep5d5t news      
website ,p]%iy ,region1 ,artsiom ,liava 
) indep5d5t news website ,novy ,*as1    
,aliaksei ,sudnikau & ,usevalad ,z>ub9 )
 indep5d5t news website ,tut4by1 blogg] 
,anatoly ,*ilik1 ,&y ,smy! ) ,,bbc1     
,mikhail ,ily9 & ,artsiom ,mayorau )    
,poli% broadca/] ,euroradio1 & ,ales    
,piletski & ,&rey ,rab*yk ) ,,rfe_/,,rl2
 ,:]eas1 on ,july #ae1 #bjbj1 at lea/   
#b1jjj p l9$ up to file compla9ts ) !   
,c5tral ,election ,commission = d5y+ !  
c&idacy regi/rations ( ,bab>yka &       
,tsapkalo1 & au?orities deta9$ ano!r #af
 p1 includ+ ,,rfe_/,,rl correspond5t    
,anton ,tr(imovi* & ,bela,p,a,n         
correspond5t ,violeta ,sav*yts2 ,:]eas1 
on ,july #ae1 #bjbj1 ,amne/y            
,int]national issu$ a /atem5t 9 response
 to ! arre/ ( prote/]s 9 ,m9sk on ,july 
#ad1 #bjbj1 /at+ t anyone deta9$ simply 
= peacefully prote/+ 9 ,m9sk1 or o!r    

cities1 is a prison] ( consci5ce1 & mu/ 
be imm$iately & unconditionally releas$2
 & ,:]eas1 on ,july #bb1 #bjbj1 !       
,c5tral ,election ,commission ann\nc$ x 
w sev]ely limit ! numb] ( obs]v]s dur+  
e>ly vot+ & on election day3 ,n[1 !re=e1
 be x ,t ! ,s5ate-- 7#a7 condemns !     
politically motiv$ arre/ & imprisonm5t (
 opposition c&idates 9 ,bel>us1 includ+ 
,sy>hey ,tsikhan\ski1 ,vikt> ,bab>yka1 &
 ,mikalay ,/atkevi*1 & calls = _!       
imm$iate release & ability to compete 9 
! ,augu/ #i1 #bjbj1 presid5tial election
 9 ,bel>us2  7#b7 condemns ! arbitr>y   
disqualification by ! ,c5tral ,election 
,commission ( ,bel>us ( ! majority ( !  
pot5tial c&idates = ! ,augu/ #i1 #bjbj1 
presid5tial election2  7#c7 condemns !  
crackd[n on & arbitr>y arre/s ( peaceful
 prote/]s1 opposition p>ty memb]s1 human
 rights activi/s1 & indep5d5t m$ia by   
au?orities 9 ,bel>us2  7#d7 /&s 9       
solid>ity ) ! p ( ,bel>us1 includ+ human
 rights def5d]s1 blogg]s1 & j\rnali/s1  
:o are ex]cis+ _! "r to fre$om (        

assembly1 fre$om ( expression1 & rule ( 
law2 &  7#e7 calls on ,bel>us to hold   
free1 fair1 & inclusive presid5tial     
elections on ,augu/ #i1 #bjbj1 t meet   
int]national /&>ds & include cr$ible    
int]national election monitor+4