US Congress House of Representatives approves ‘Belarus Democracy, Human Rights, and Sovereignty Act of 2020’

<p> MINSK, Nov 19 - PrimePress. The House of Representatives of the US Congress on Nov 18, 2020 approved the bill ‘Belarus Democracy, Human Rights, and Sovereignty Act of 2020’, which expands the US President’s authority to impose sanctions related to Belarus to include activities surrounding the disputed 2020 Belarusian presidential election and subsequent government crackdown. The bill also expands authorized assistance to Belarus. </p> <p>   </p> <p> “The President may impose visa-blocking sanctions on any alien who (1) is a member of the Central Election Commission of Belarus or assisted in the manipulation of the August 9, 2020, presidential election, (2) is a government official responsible for the crackdown on independent media, (3) is an official of the Union State (an international organization consisting of Belarus and Russia), or (4) is a Russian individual who has significantly participated in the crackdown on the press or human rights abuses related to political repression in Belarus. (The President already has authority to impose such sanctions on certain aliens, such as senior leaders in the government of Belarus.) </p> <p>   </p> <p> The bill says that the United States does not recognize the outcome of the 9 Aug 2020 presidential election; refuses to recognize Alexander Lukashenko as the legitimately elected leader of Belarus; recognizes the Coordination Council as a legitimate institution to participate in a dialogue on a peaceful transition of power. </p> <p>   </p> <p> The bill calls for new presidential and parliamentary elections in a free and fair manner, in accordance with OSCE standards and for the release without preconditions of all political prisoners. </p> <p>   </p> <p> The bill proposes to: </p> <p>   </p> <p> “(1) condemn the conduct of the August 9, 2020, presidential election and crackdown on opposition candidates, senior members of the Coordination Council, peaceful protestors, employees from state-owned enterprises participating in strikes, independent election observers, and independent journalists and bloggers; </p> <p> “(2) continue to call for the immediate release without preconditions of all political prisoners in Belarus, including all those individuals detained in connection with the August 9, 2020, presidential election, a leading opposition figure Maryia Kalesnikava, and United States citizen Vitali Shkliarov; </p> <p> “(3) continue to support the aspirations of the people of Belarus for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law; </p> <p> “(4) continue to support the aspirations of the people of Belarus to exercise their religion freely, including the head of the Catholic Church in Belarus Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz who was barred from entering the country after criticizing Belarusian authorities; </p> <p> “(5) continue to support actively the aspirations of the people of the Republic of Belarus to preserve the independence and sovereignty of their country; </p> <p> “(6) not to recognize any incorporation of Belarus into a ‘Union State’ with Russia, as this so-called ‘Union State’ would be both an attempt to absorb Belarus and a step to reconstituting the totalitarian Soviet Union; </p> <p> “(7) continue to reject the results of the fraudulent August 9, 2020, presidential election in Belarus, and to support calls for new presidential and parliamentary elections, conducted in a manner that is free and fair according to OSCE standards and under the supervision of OSCE observers and independent domestic observers; </p> <p> “(8) refuse to recognize Alexander Lukashenko as the legitimately elected leader of Belarus; </p> <p> “(9) continue to call for the fulfillment by the Government of Belarus of Belarus’s freely undertaken obligations as an OSCE participating state and as a signatory of the Charter of the United Nations; </p> <p> “(10) support an OSCE role in mediating a dialogue within Belarus between the government and genuine representatives of Belarusian society; </p> <p> “(11) recognize the Coordination Council as a legitimate institution to participate in a dialogue on a peaceful transition of power; </p> <p> “(12) urge an expanded United States diplomatic presence in Belarus to advocate for the aspirations of the people of Belarus for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law; </p> <p> “(13) continue to work closely with the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, and other countries and international organizations, to promote the principles of democracy, the rule of law and human rights in Belarus; and </p> <p> “(14) remain open to reevaluating United States policy toward Belarus as warranted by demonstrable progress made by the Government of Belarus consistent with the aims of this Act as stated in this section.” </p> <p>   </p> <p> Before the bill enters into force, it must also be approved by the Senate and then signed by the US President. End </p>

2020-11-20

Primepress