,,iii #aaf? ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #fhi ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,! ,,unit$ ,,/ates ,septemb] #ad1 #bjbj,mr4 ,ris* 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,m55dez1 ,mr4 ,murphy1 ,mr4 ,rubio1 ,mr4 ,durb91 ,mr4 ,graham1 ,mrs4 ,%ahe51 ,mr4 ,c>d91 ,mr4 ,romney1 ,mr4 ,coons1 ,mr4 ,johnson1 ,mr4 ,portman1 & ,mr4 ,ka9e7 submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,=eign ,relations ,,resolution ,condemn+ ! crackd[n on peaceful prote/ors 9 ,bel>us & call+ = ! imposition ( sanctions on responsible (ficials4 ,:]eas ,alyaks&r ,luka%5ka has rul$ ,bel>us z an undemocratic dictator%ip s9ce ! fir/ presid5tial election 9 ,bel>us 9 #aiid2 ,:]eas subsequ5t presid5tial elections 9 ,bel>us h be5 nei!r free nor fair & h be5 reject$ by ! int]national community z n meet+ m9imal electoral /&>ds1 ) ! jail+ ( opposition activi/s frequ5tly us$ z a tool ( gov]nm5t repression be=e & aft] ! elections2 ,:]eas1 9 response to ! repression & viol5ce dur+ ! #bjjf presid5tial election1 ,congress pass$ ! ,bel>us ,democracy ,reau?orization ,act ( #bjjf 7,public ,law #aji-dhj72 ,:]eas1 9 ,m>* #bjaa1 ! ,s5ate unanim\sly pass$ ,s5ate ,resolution #aje1 :i*-- 7#a7 condemn$ ! ,decemb] #bjaj election 9 ,bel>us z illegitimate1 fraudul5t1 & n repres5tative ( ! w or ! aspirations ( ! vot]s 9 ,bel>us2 & 7#b7 call$ on ! ,luka%5ka regime to imm$iately & unconditionally release all political prison]s 9 ,bel>us :o 7 arre/$ 9 association ) ! ,decemb] #ai1 #bjaj1 election2 ,:]eas1 9 advance ( ! ,augu/ #bjbj presid5tial elections 9 ,bel>us1 au?orities act+ on behalf ( ,presid5t ,luka%5ka arre/$ j\rnali/s1 blogg]s1 political activi/s1 & opposition lead]s1 includ+ ?ree lead+ presid5tial c&idates 7,sy>hey ,tsikhan\ski1 ,mikalay ,/atkevi*1 & ,vikt> ,bab>yka71 :o 7 b>r$ f runn+ 9 ! election by ! ,c5tral ,election ,commission ( ! ,republic ( ,bel>us2 ,:]eas1 :ile ! ?ree opposition c&idates 7 imprison$1 two ( _! wives & "o ( _! campaign manag]s1 ,sviatlana ,tsikhan\skaya1 ,v]anika ,tsepkala1 & ,m>ia ,kalesnikava1 jo9$ toge!r & ran 9 place ( ! c&idates2 ,:]eas ?\s&s ( ,bel>usian p demon/rat$ _! support = ^! c&idates by att5d+ rallies1 includ+ "o rally t includ$ an e/imat$ #fc1jjj p>ticipants2 ,:]eas1 on ,augu/1 #e1 #bjbj1 ! ,s5ate unanim\sly pass$ ,s5ate ,resolution #feh1 :i* calls = a free1 fair1 & transp>5t presid5tial election 9 ,bel>us1 includ+ ! unimp$$ p>ticipation ( all presid5tial c&idates2 ,:]eas presid5tial elections 7 held 9 ,bel>us on ,augu/ #i1 #bjbj1 "u undemocratic conditions ) reports ( malfeasance on ! "p ( ,luka%5ka's gov]nm5t1 includ+ e>ly vot+ ballot /uff+1 ballot burn+1 pressur+ poll work]s1 & remov+ bags full ( ballots by climb+ out ( w9d[s2 ,:]eas incumb5t presid5t ,alyaks&r ,luka%5ka decl>$ a l&slide victory 9 ! election & claim$ to h receiv$ m ?an #hj p]c5t ( ! votes ca/ 9 ! election2 ,:]eas ! lead+ opposition c&idate1 ,sviatlana ,tsikhan\skaya-- 7#a7 =mally disput$ ! gov]nm5t's report$ election results2 7#b7 expla9$ t h] /aff _h exam9$ ! election results f m ?an #ej poll+ places2 & 7#c7 f\nd t h] %>e ( ! vote exce$$ ,luka%5ka's %>e by _m times2 ,:]eas1 on ,augu/ #aj1 #bjbj1 ,sviatlana ,tsikhan\skaya 0 deta9$ :ile att5d+ a meet+ ) ! ,c5tral ,election ,commission ( ! ,republic ( ,bel>us & =c$ to flee to ,li?uania "u pressure f gov]nm5t au?orities2 ,:]eas1 on ,augu/ #aa1 #bjbj1 ,li?uanian ,=eign ,m9i/] ,l9as ,l9keviius ann\nc$ t ,sviatlana ,tsikhan\skaya 0 safe 9 ,li?uania & has cont9u$ to be "o ( ! /ronge/ voices support+ ! pro-democracy movem5t 9 ,bel>us )9 ! ,european ,union & globally2 ,:]eas1 on ,augu/ #aa1 #bjbj1 ! ,european ,union ,high ,repres5tative = ,=eign & ,security ,policy1 ,josep ,borrell1 issu$ a decl>ation on ! presid5tial election 9 ,bel>us /at+ t ! elections 7 nei!r free nor fair2 ,:]eas1 on ,augu/ #ah1 #bjbj1 ,sviatlana ,tsikhan\skaya ann\nc$ ! =mation ( a ,coord9ation ,c\ncil to ov]see a resolution to ! crisis 9 ,bel>us & a peaceful transition ( p[]2 ,:]eas1 on ,augu/ #ai1 #bjbj1 ,european ,c\ncil ,presid5t ,*>les ,mi*el ann\nc$ t ! ,european ,union w\ld impose sanctions on a sub/antial numb] ( individuals responsible = viol5ce1 repression1 & election fraud 9 ,bel>us2 ,:]eas1 on ,augu/ #bh1 #bjbj1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,deputy ,secret>y ( ,/ate ,/eph5 ,biegun decl>$ t ! ,augu/ #i? election 9 ,bel>us 0 fraudul5t2 ,:]eas1 s9ce ! %am election on ,augu/ #i1 #bjbj1 t5s ( ?\s&s ( ,bel>usian citiz5s h p>ticipat$ 9 daily peaceful prote/s call+ = a new1 free1 & fair election1 & ! release ( political prison]s2 ,:]eas accord+ to ,amne/y ,int]national1 on ,augu/ #cj1 #bjbj1 ,bel>usians held "o ( ! l>ge/ prote/ rallies 9 ! c\ntry's mod]n hi/ory 9 ,m9sk & 9 o!r cities1 :i* 0 att5d$ by at lea/ #ajj1jjj p :o dem&$ ! resignation ( ,presid5t ,luka%5ka & an inve/igation into ! human rights violations 9 ,bel>us2 ,:]eas wom5 h play$ a lead+ role 9 ! prote/s1 includ+ by =m+ peaceful solid>ity *a9s ( ?\s&s ( ,bel>usians symbolically dress$ 9 :ite2 ,:]eas m ?an #g1jjj ,bel>usian citiz5s h be5 deta9$ by gov]nm5t au?orities1 mo/ly = tak+ "p 9 or obs]v+ peaceful prote/s1 ) _m ( ^! arre/s foll[$ by beat+s & torture at ! h&s ( ,bel>usian law en=cem5t2 ,:]eas au?orities 9 ,bel>us h consi/5tly re/rict$ press fre$om z "p ( ! crackd[n1 includ+-- 7#a7 ! arre/ ( doz5s ( j\rnali/s1 six ( :om report = ,radio ,free ,europe_/,radio ,lib]ty2 7#b7 block+ m ?an #ej news websites t 7 cov]+ ! prote/s2 7#c7 halt+ ! publi%+ ( two indep5d5t newspap]s2 & 7#d7 /ripp+ ! accr$itation ( j\rnali/s work+ = =eign news outlets2 ,:]eas int]net access 9 ,bel>us has be5 repeat$ly disrupt$ & re/rict$ s9ce ,augu/ #i1 #bjbj1 :i* indep5d5t exp]ts & monitor+ gr\ps h attribut$ to gov]nm5t int]f]5ce2 ,:]eas aft] employees ( /ate m$ia outlets walk$ (f ! job 9 prote/ r ?an help report mislead+ gov]nm5t propag&a1 ,luka%5ka confirm$ t he ask$ ! ,russians to s5d teams ( ,russian j\rnali/s to replace local employees2 ,:]eas ,luka%5ka appeal$ to ,russian ,presid5t ,vladimir ,put9 to provide security assi/ance to 8 gov]nm5t1 if reque/$1 & ,put9 confirm$ t a res]ve police =ce 0 ready to be deploy$ if ! situation gets out ( control2 ,:]eas ! ,bel>us ,m9i/ry ( ,def5se ?reat5$ to s5d ! army to confront prote/ors1 w>n+ t 9 case ( any violation ( peace & ord] 9 areas ar\nd national monum5ts1 y w h ! army to deal ) n[1 n ! police2 ,:]eas1 accord+ to ! ,viasna ,human ,rights ,c5tre1 at lea/ #dej deta9ees h report$ be+ tortur$ or o!rwise ill-treat$ :ile held 9 incommunicado det5tion = up to #aj days1 includ+ ?r\gh-- 7#a7 sev]e beat+s2 7#b7 =c$ p]=mance ( humiliat+ acts2 & 7#c7 sexual viol5ce & o!r =ms ( viol5ce2 ,:]eas at lea/ f\r ,bel>usians h be5 kill$ at prote/s1 & doz5s ( ,bel>usians :o 7 deta9$ dur+ ! prote/s are /ill miss+2 ,:]eas1 on or ar\nd ,septemb] #f1 #bjbj1 ! opposition lead]1 ,m>ia ,kalesnikava1 & memb]s ( ! ,coord9ation ,c\ncil1 includ+ ,anton ,ron5kov1 ,ivan ,kravtsov1 & ,maxim ,bogretsov1 7 deta9$ by au?orities :o s\ght to =cibly expel !m to ,ukra9e2 ,:]eas opposition lead] ,m>ia ,kolesnikova tore up h] passport at ! ,ukra9ian bord] 9 a successful ef=t to prev5t ?is expulsion1 subsequ5tly disappe>$1 & 0 discov]$ 9 a ,m9sk prison on ,septemb] #i1 #bjbj2 ,:]eas ! ,int]national ,cov5ant on ,civil & ,political ,rights1 done at ,new ,york ,decemb] #ai1 #aiff1 0 ratifi$ by ,bel>us 9 #aigc1 gu>antee+ ,bel>usians ! fre$om ( expression & ! fre$om ( association2 & ,:]eas1 9 #bjjf1 ,presid5t ,george ,w4 ,bu% issu$ ,executive ,ord] #acdje1 titl$ ,block+ ,prop]ty ( ,c]ta9 ,p]sons ,und]m9+ ,democratic ,processes or ,in/itutions 9 ,bel>us1 :i* au?oriz$ ! imposition ( sanctions aga9/ p]sons responsible =-- 7#a7 und]m9+ democratic processes 9 ,bel>us2 or 7#b7 p>ticipat+ 9 human rights abuses relat$ to political repression 9 ,bel>us3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be x ,t ! ,s5ate-- 7#a7 f9ds t-- 7,a7 ! elections held 9 ,bel>us on ,augu/ #i1 #bjbj1 7 nei!r free nor fair2 & 7,b7 ! results ann\nc$ by ! ,c5tral ,election ,commission ( ! ,republic ( ,bel>us are invalid2 7#b7 /&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#c7 recognizes ! lead+ role ( wom5 9 ! peaceful prote/s & pro-democracy movem5t 9 ,bel>us2 7#d7 condemns ! unrel5t+ crackd[n on1 arbitr>y arre/s (1 & viol5ce aga9/ peaceful prote/]s1 opposition lead]s1 human rights activi/s1 & indep5d5t m$ia by au?orities 9 ,bel>us2 7#e7 condemns ! unju/ifi$ det5tion & =c$ or attempt$ expulsion ( memb]s ( ! ,coord9ation ,c\ncil 9 ,bel>us2 7#f7 dem&s ! release ( all political prison]s & ^? arre/$ = peacefully prote/+1 includ+ ^? arre/$ be=e ! ,augu/ #i1 #bjbj1 election2 7#g7 applauds ! commitm5t by =eign diplomats 9 ,m9sk to engage ) ,coord9ation ,c\ncil memb] & ,nobel ,laureate1 ,svetlana ,alexievi*1 & enc\rages an ongo+ dialogue ) h] & ) o!r lead]s ( ! democratically ori5t$ political opposition 9 ,bel>us2 7#h7 calls on ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,bel>us to uphold its human rights obligations1 includ+ ^? enum]at$ 9 ! ,int]national ,cov5ant on ,civil & ,political ,rights2 7#i7 calls on ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,gov]nm5t to impose t>get$ sanctions1 9 coord9ation ) ! ,european ,union & o!r int]national p>tn]s1 aga9/ (ficials 9 ,bel>us :o are responsible =-- 7,a7 und]m9+ democratic processes 9 ,bel>us2 or 7,b7 p>ticipat+ 9 human rights abuses relat$ to political repression 9 ,bel>us2 7#aj7 enc\rages ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,gov]nm5t to cont9ue work+ ) its p>tn]s 9 ,europe1 p>ticul>ly ! ,organization = ,security & ,co-op]ation 9 ,europe1 to support ! p ( ,bel>us2 & 7#aa7 supports-- 7,a7 ! cont9u$ t]ritorial integrity ( ,bel>us2 & 7,b7 ! "r ( ! ,bel>usian p to det]m9e _! future4