,,iv  #aag? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,h4 ,,res4 #abd  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(     
,,repres5tatives  ,febru>y #ae1         
#bjba,mr4 ,keat+ 7= himself1 ,ms4       
,kaptur1 & ,mr4 ,fitzpatrick7 submitt$ !
 foll[+ resolution2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to !   
,committee on ,=eign ,affairs           
,,resolution  ,support+ ! p ( ,bel>us & 
_! democratic aspirations & condemn+ !  
election rigg+ & subsequ5t viol5t       
crackd[ns on peaceful prote/]s by !     
illegitimate ,luka%5ka regime4  ,:]eas !
 ,republic ( ,bel>us held a presid5tial 
election on ,augu/ #i1 #bjbj1 t 0 widely
 consid]$ to be nei!r free nor fair2    
,:]eas (ficial election results releas$ 
by ,bel>usian gov]nm5t (ficials & !     
un(ficial exit polls conduct$ by dome/ic
 obs]v]s & memb]s ( civil society       
pres5t$ sub/antially div]g5t data2      
,:]eas ! presid5tial election took place
 )\t appropriate obs]vation f local     
indep5d5t gr\ps & int]national          
delegations2 ,:]eas1 s9ce ! presid5tial 
election1 ,bel>usians h demon/rat$ _!   

/rong desire & commitm5t to a democratic
 future by organiz+ peaceful prote/s 9  
,m9sk & across ! c\ntry2 ,:]eas         
,bel>usian civil society1 l$ by         
,sviatlana ,tsikhan\skaya1 has call$ = !
 resignation ( ,alyaks&r ,luka%5ka1 !   
peaceful transition ( p[]1 & !          
organization ( new1 free1 & fair        
elections2 ,:]eas ,bel>usian opposition 
lead]s h fac$ intimidation1 h>assm5t1 & 
det5tion1 includ+ direct ?reats lead+ to
 ! =c$ exile ( ,sviatlana ,tsikhan\skaya
 9 ,li?uania z well z ! kidnapp+ &      
imprisonm5t ( ,m>ia ,kalesnikava & o!r  
opposition lead]s2 ,:]eas 9 ! mon?s s9ce
 ! election1 ,bel>usian au?orities h    
arbitr>ily deta9$ & brutally assault$   
t5s ( ?\s&s ( peaceful prote/]s1        
j\rnali/s1 & opposition figures1 ( :i*  
hundr$s rema9 9 det5tion2 ,:]eas human  
rights gr\ps h docum5t$ hundr$s ( h>r[+ 
acc\nts ( torture1 sexual viol5ce1 & o!r
 ill-treatm5t ( deta9ees arre/$ =       
peaceful prote/2 ,:]eas1 on ,augu/ #ac &
 #ad1 #bjbj1 relatives ( deta9ees held 9

 ! infam\s ,akre/s9a det5tion facility 9
 ,m9sk record$ ! s\nds ( incessant      
beat+s :i* 7 cle>ly audible 9 ! /reet1 &
 num]\s voices scream+ out 9 agony ) "s 
begg+ = m]cy2 ,:]eas ?\s&s ( ,bel>usians
 fl$ to neighbor+ c\ntries seek+        
political asylum2 ,:]eas indep5d5t      
j\rnali/s & ! free m$ia h fac$          
intimidation1 viol5ce1 & mass arre/s1 & 
z a result1 _m j\rnali/s h be5 held 9   
det5tion = ext5d$ p]iods & fac$ crim9al 
proce$+s1 ) _m =eign j\rnali/s be+      
/ripp$ ( _! accr$itation2 ,:]eas despite
 ef=ts by ! ,luka%5ka regime to suppress
 indep5d5t & free m$ia1 brave           
individuals1 su* z ,ih> ,losyk1         
,katsi>yna ,b>ysevi*1 ,ekat]9a          
,andreeva1 & ,d>ya ,*ultsova1 among     
o!rs1 h cont9u$ to %[ _! resolve &      
commitm5t to accurately & hone/ly cov]+ 
! situation on ! gr\nd2 ,:]eas memb]    
/ates ( ! ,organization = ,security &   
,co-op]ation 9 ,europe 7,,osce71 ( :i* !
 ,unit$ ,/ates & ,bel>us are memb]s1    
invok$ p>agraph #ab ( ! #aiia ,mosc[    

,docum5t ( ! ,conf]5ce on ! ,human      
,dim5sion ( ! ,,osce 7,mosc[ ,me*anism7 
to e/abli% a mission ( exp]ts to review 
allegations ( human rights violations2  
,:]eas ! ,,osce ,rapporteur's ,report "u
 ! ,mosc[ ,me*anism on ,alleg$ ,human   
,rights ,violations relat$ to !         
presid5tial elections ( ,augu/ #i1      
#bjbj1 9 ,bel>us1 publi%$ ,novemb] #e1  
#bjbj1 conclud$ t !re 0 ov]:elm+ evid5ce
 t ! presid5tial elections ( #i ,augu/  
#bjbj _h be5 falsifi$ & t massive &     
sy/ematic human rights violations _h be5
 committ$ by ! ,bel>usian security =ces 
9 response to peaceful demon/rations &  
prote/s2 ,:]eas wom5 h play$ a lead+    
role 9 peaceful demon/rations across !  
c\ntry1 prote/+ ! police brutality &    
mass det5tions by we>+ r$ & :ite1 c>ry+ 
fl[]s1 & =m+ solid>ity *a9s2 ,:]eas !   
in=mation te*nology 7,,x7 indu/ry 9     
,bel>us has play$ a prom95t role 9 !    
democratic movem5t by dem&+ an end to   
viol5t oppression1 z well z creat+ safe 
plat=ms = demon/rators to communicate & 

track p :o h be5 deta9$ or w5t miss+    
dur+ mass det5tions2 ,:]eas ,bel>usian  
au?orities h cont9ually disrupt$ int]net
 *annels 9 an attempt to limit          
communication among demon/rators &      
t>get$ lead te*nology companies & _!    
employees advocat+ = democracy2 ,:]eas  
,bel>usian /ate-own$ television *annels 
h play$ a prom95t role 9 enc\rag+       
viol5ce aga9/ peaceful demon/rators2    
,:]eas a rec5t survey ( ,,x speciali/s  
f\nd t #ae p]c5t ( ,,x speciali/s work+ 
9 ,bel>us h already relocat$ to         
neighbor+ c\ntries1 & ov] #dj p]c5t (   
,,x speciali/s no long] want to "w 9    
,bel>us1 result+ 9 a deva/at+ loss (    
tal5t = ,bel>us1 possibly p]man5tly     
damag+ ! ,bel>usian te*nology indu/ry   
along ) ! ,bel>usian economy2 ,:]eas    
hundr$s ( =m] law en=cem5t (fic]s 9     
,bel>us :o h defect$ 9 defiance (       
illegal ord]s to commit human rights    
violations & cov] up crimes aga9/       
civilians & ^? :o h assi/$ law en=cem5t 
(fic]s 9 defect+ h fac$ h>assm5t1       

f9ancial p5alties1 arre/1 det5tion1 &   
o!r punitive measures2 ,:]eas           
,luka%5ka's regime directs law en=cem5t 
(fic]s to use excessive =ce aga9/       
peaceful demon/rators & s[ t]ror 9      
resid5tial neighborhoods2 ,:]eas sev]al 
peaceful demon/rators h di$ z a result (
 police viol5ce1 includ+ #ca-ye>-old    
,roman ,bondar5ko :o 0 viol5tly beat5 by
 pla9clo!s police (fic]s &1 z a result1 
suff]$ head injuries t result$ 9 8 dea?2
 ,:]eas demon/rators h report$ num]\s   
in/ances ( rape by (fic]s :ile be+ held 
9 det5tion c5t]s & h detail$ viol5t     
assaults 9 int]rogation rooms &         
isolation w>ds t l$ to sev]e injuries2  
,:]eas ,bel>usian univ]sities cont9ue to
 expel /ud5ts & dismiss educators &     
rese>*]s = p>ticipat+ 9 peaceful        
prote/s2 ,:]eas *ild protective s]vices 
h ?reat5$ multiple civic activi/s )     
t]m9ation ( p>5tal rights = br++ m9or   
*ildr5 to peaceful prote/s2 ,:]eas      
factory work]s at /ate-own$ ent]prises h
 be5 cont9u\sly h>ass$ = try+ to        

organize indep5d5t trade unions & h be5 
=c$ to sign political lett]s oppos+     
sanctions by ! ,european ,union "u ?reat
 ( t]m9ation ( _! employm5t2 ,:]eas a   
transatlantic community ( legislators   
has em]g$ 9 support ( uplift+ !         
democratic aspirations ( ! ,bel>usian p2
 ,:]eas int]national advocacy1 includ+  
by co-ho/ ,latvia1 succe$$ 9 prev5t+ !  
illegitimate ,gov]nm5t ( ,bel>us f ho/+ 
! #bjba ,ice ,hockey ,_w ,*ampion%ip2   
,:]eas ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 ! ,european     
,union1 ! ,unit$ ,k+dom1 & ,canada h    
enact$ sanctions & o!r punitive measures
 aga9/ sev]al individuals & entities    
f\nd responsible = ! p]petration (      
viol5ce aga9/ peaceful demon/rators1    
opposition memb]s1 work]s1 & j\rnali/s1 
among o!rs2 ,:]eas ,alyaks&r ,luka%5ka  
cont9ues to und]m9e ! sov]eignty &      
indep5d5ce ( ,bel>us ?r\gh ef=ts to     
integrate ,bel>us into a s-call$ ,union 
,/ate "u ! control ( ,russia2 ,:]eas !  
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives pass$ ! ,bel>us 
,democracy1 ,human ,rights1 &           

,sov]eignty ,act ( #bjbj ) unanim\s     
cons5t1 s5d+ a cle> message ( ov]:elm+1 
bip>tisan support = ! democratic movem5t
 9 ,bel>us2 ,:]eas ! ,bel>us ,democracy1
 ,human ,rights1 & ,sov]eignty ,act (   
#bjbj 0 sign$ into law1 exp&+ !         
,presid5t's au?ority to impose sanctions
 relat$ to ,bel>us & au?oriz+ increas$  
assi/ance to c\nt] int]net c5sor%ip &   
surveillance te*nology1 support wom5    
advocat+ = fre$om & human rights1 &     
support political refugees flee+ !      
crackd[n 9 ,bel>us1 among o!r ?+s2      
,:]eas ! ,bel>us opposition1 l$ by      
,sviatlana ,tsikhan\skaya1 organiz$ a   
,day ( ,solid>y on ,febru>y #g1 #bjbj1  
:]e c\ntries1 cities1 & political &     
elect$ lead]s1 z well z ev]yday citiz5s1
 demon/rat$ _! support = ! six mon?s (  
peaceful prote/s s9ce ! fraudul5t       
presid5tial election t took place on    
,augu/ #i1 #bjbj2 & ,:]eas ! ,unit$     
,/ates & its transatlantic allies &     
p>tn]s mu/ cont9ue to explore av5ues =  
coop]ation 9 support ( ! democratic     

movem5t 9 ,bel>us3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be x ,t !
 ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives-- 7#a7 f9ds t !
 ,augu/ #i1 #bjbj1 presid5tial election 
9 ,bel>us 0 nei!r free nor fair &1      
!re=e1 does n recognize !               
gov]nm5t-ann\nc$ results or ,alyaks&r   
,luka%5ka z ! legitimate ,presid5t (    
,bel>us2  7#b7 affirms t ! p ( ,bel>us h
 ! "r to det]m9e ! future ( ,bel>us )\t 
unwelcome int]v5tion f any outside      
actors 9 violation ( ,bel>usian         
indep5d5ce & sov]eignty2  7#c7 condemns 
! human rights violations committ$ by   
,bel>usian au?orities1 includ+ aga9/    
peaceful demon/rators1 civil society    
activi/s1 opposition lead]s1 /ud5ts1    
educators1 factory work]s1 m$ical       
p]sonnel1 & j\rnali/s1 & calls = su*    
au?orities to halt any fur!r acts (     
viol5ce aga9/ civilians2  7#d7 calls = !
 imm$iate release ( all ^? deta9$ 9     
connection ) ! demon/rations or o!rs    
unlawfully deta9$ = report+ on or       
prote/+ abuses by ! ,bel>usian gov]nm5t1
 includ+ releas+ ^? family memb]s (     

,am]ican citiz5s work+ = ,unit$ ,/ates  
companies2  7#e7 calls = ! protection ( 
civil society actors & memb]s ( !       
opposition aga9/ arbitr>y arre/ &       
viol5ce :ile conduct+ peaceful          
discussions relat+ to ! peaceful        
transition ( p[] 9 ,bel>us2  7#f7       
recognizes ! sacrifices & brav]y ( !    
,bel>usian p & ! incr$ible organization 
by ,bel>usian wom5 to peacefully dem& a 
free & fair democratic process :ile     
endur+ ! /ate-sponsor$ viol5ce t foll[$ 
! ,augu/ #i1 #bjbj1 election2  7#g7     
calls on ,alyaks&r ,luka%5ka &          
,belarusian au?orities to engage 9 an   
op5 & con/ructive dialogue ) !          
opposition memb]s & o!r /akehold]s to   
br+ ab\t a peaceful transition ( p[]2   
7#h7 recognizes ! ,coord9ation ,c\ncil  
e/abli%$ by ,sviatlana ,tsikhan\skaya z 
a legitimate in/itution to p>ticipate 9 
a dialogue on a peaceful transition (   
p[]2  7#i7 calls = fur!r t>get$         
sanctions coord9at$ betwe5 ! ,unit$     
,/ates1 ! ,european ,union1 ! ,unit$    

,k+dom1 ,canada1 & o!r allies & p>tn]s  
aga9/ ,bel>usian au?orities :o committ$ 
human rights violations & au?orities f !
 electoral commission :o engag$ 9       
activities t result$ 9 ! falsification (
 ! ,augu/ #i1 #bjbj1 election results2  
7#aj7 enc\rages consid]+1 9 coord9ation 
) transatlantic p>tn]s1 ! sanction+ (   
,bel>usian /ate-own$ companies t h      
directly violat$ ! rights ( _! work]s z 
a result ( _! p>ticipation 9 or 9       
connection to ! ongo+ democratic movem5t
 9 ,bel>us2  7#aa7 calls on !           
transatlantic community to review &     
consid] reassess+ any f9ancial assi/ance
 t supports ! ,luka%5ka regime1 includ+ 
p>ticipation 9 /ate debt issuances or   
procurem5t contracts2  7#ab7 supports   
increas+ funds available = =eign        
assi/ance to ,bel>usian civil society   
gr\ps z well z legal assi/ance =        
activi/s & indep5d5t j\rnali/s1 among   
o!rs2  7#ac7 calls = an int]national    
inve/igation into ! human rights abuses 
committ$ dur+ & aft] ! ,augu/ #i1 #bjbj1

 presid5tial election2  7#ad7 calls =   
new free & fair elections "u            
,organization = ,security & ,co-op]ation
 9 ,europe obs]vation2 &  7#ae7 cont9ues
 to support ! aspirations ( ! p (       
,bel>us = democracy1 human rights1 & !  
rule ( law1 & reaffirms t ! fulfillm5t (
 su* aspirations is ! only way to ensure
 ! cont9u$ /r5g? ( ,bel>usian sov]eignty
 & t]ritorial integrity4