H.Res. 73

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 73 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 73

Condemning the fraudulent January 2025 Belarusian presidential election 
and the Lukashenka regime's continued autocratic rule, calling for 
continued support for the people of Belarus who seek a democratic 
future, and calling for free and fair elections in Belarus in line with 
international standards.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 28, 2025

Mr. Keating (for himself, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Ms. Kaptur, and 
Mr. Smith of New Jersey) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

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RESOLUTION

Condemning the fraudulent January 2025 Belarusian presidential election 
and the Lukashenka regime's continued autocratic rule, calling for 
continued support for the people of Belarus who seek a democratic 
future, and calling for free and fair elections in Belarus in line with 
international standards.

Whereas, on January 26, 2025, the Lukashenka regime administered fraudulent 
presidential elections with Alyaksandr Lukashenka's illegal manipulation 
of the vote totals and repression of the opposition ensuring his 
continued corrupt rule of Belarus;
Whereas, the January 26, 2025, fraudulent elections did not reflect the will of 
the Belarusian people who seek a free and democratic future;
Whereas Alyaksandr Lukashenka has ruled Belarus for more than 30 years and has 
consolidated his authoritarian rule through attacks on civil society, 
fraudulent elections, and repression of any semblance of opposition to 
his rule;
Whereas Lukashenka and his cronies have greatly intensified their abhorrent 
crackdown on civil society including following the fraudulent 2020 
presidential elections, and the regime now holds more than 1,200 
political prisoners including peaceful protesters, journalists, and 
business leaders;
Whereas the Lukashenka regime has been credibly accused of torture, harassment, 
and violence against political prisoners forcing unlawfully detained 
individuals to sleep in damp cells, depriving them of family visits and 
outside contact, and regularly abusing and humiliating prisoners;
Whereas the United States, the European Union, and numerous friends of Belarus 
have called for the immediate release of all political prisoners in 
Belarus;
Whereas the Belarusian regime has actively participated in Russia's war of 
aggression in Ukraine, providing a staging ground for Russian ground 
forces as well as air and missile attacks on Ukrainian civilian 
infrastructure;
Whereas public reporting has shown that, at the direction and coordination of 
the Belarusian and Russian Governments, more than 2,400 children have 
been transported from Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine to facilities 
in Belarus where abducted children are forced to undergo political and 
cultural reeducation as well as military training to serve the interests 
of Belarus and Russia;
Whereas Lukashenka has said his country is hosting dozens of Russian nuclear 
weapons which threatens global security and increases the risks of 
escalation;
Whereas, in addition to the fraudulent January 2025 elections, previous 
presidential elections on August 9, 2020, as well as parliamentary 
elections on February 25, 2024, have been deemed fraudulent and lacked 
any international observers from reputable organizations;
Whereas, in response to opposition candidates garnering significant support both 
in the lead-up to and in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential 
election, the regime cracked down imprisoning thousands and arresting 
opposition figures like Siarhei Tsikhanouski and Maria Kalesnikava, as 
well as forcing countless others into exile;
Whereas Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty affiliated journalists Andrey Kuznechyk 
and Ihar Losik as well as former Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty 
journalist Ihar Karney remain wrongfully imprisoned in Belarus and have 
been recognized by international human rights organizations as political 
prisoners;
Whereas, in direct response to the fraudulent August 9, 2020, Belarusian 
presidential elections, the United States has initiated a Strategic 
Dialogue with the Belarusian democratic movement and civil society to 
increase the advocacy of Belarusians, support civil society, independent 
media, and the Belarusian people amid the regime's ongoing crackdown, 
and coordinate accountability mechanisms for the Lukashenka regime;
Whereas the United States has imposed sanctions on hundreds of Belarusian 
individuals and entities which enable the regime's repression of the 
Belarusian people as well as numerous visa restrictions against regime 
officials and affiliates for their ongoing undermining of democracy in 
Belarus;
Whereas European national governments and the European Union as well as other 
allies and partners have imposed sanctions against the Lukashenka regime 
for its abhorrent crackdown on political prisoners, its facilitation of 
the abduction of thousands of Ukrainian children, and its participation 
in Russia's war of aggression against a sovereign Ukraine;
Whereas the United States has provided more than $140,000,000 in assistance to 
Belarus since the 2020 fraudulent presidential elections to further the 
strong partnership between the people of Belarus who support democracy 
and rule of law and the United States;
Whereas the United States has committed to regular dialogue with the Belarusian 
democratic opposition; and
Whereas the Belarusian people are tireless and dedicated advocates for their 
freedom amid an intense environment of repression which exists inside of 
Belarus and the regime's efforts to silence Belarusians who live in 
exile around the world: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) strongly condemns the fraudulent Belarusian 
presidential elections on January 26, 2025, which were neither 
free nor fair, and the Lukashenka regime's continued repression 
and crackdown against the Belarusian democratic opposition;
(2) calls on the regime to hold free and fair elections 
with credible international monitoring mechanisms to ensure the 
voices of the Belarusian people are accurately heard;
(3) condemns the Lukashenka regime's continued support for 
Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine as well as 
the regime's complicity in the forcible transfer of Ukrainian 
children from Ukraine and the use of Belarusian territory as a 
staging ground for Russian armed forces attacks against 
Ukraine;
(4) supports additional sanctions against the Lukashenka 
regime and officials who undermine democracy in Belarus or are 
complicit in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine 
including judges, police officials, and state-owned businesses 
that profit on the regime's repression;
(5) calls for continued support to the Belarusian 
democratic opposition as well as regular meetings of the 
Strategic Dialogue between the United States and the Belarusian 
democratic opposition to demonstrate the United States support 
for and solidarity with the opposition and as an avenue for 
pursuing creative solutions to continue to hold the Lukashenka 
regime accountable for its repression;
(6) calls on the Lukashenka regime to immediately release 
the more than 1,200 political prisoners who remain behind bars 
in Belarus;
(7) supports allied and partner governments efforts 
including sanctions, visa restrictions, and bilateral dialogue 
mechanisms to hold the Lukashenka regime accountable and 
support the democratic opposition; and
(8) stands with the Belarusian people as they pursue a 
democratic future free from authoritarian repression.
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