A bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) has introduced new legislation—the Belarus Democracy, Human Rights, and Sovereignty Act of 2024 (HR 8329)—to bolster U.S. support for the people of Belarus in their struggle against Lukashenka’s brutal dictatorship.

            The bill—cosponsored by Reps. Bill Keating (D-MA), Tom Kean (R-NJ), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), and Joe Wilson (R-SC)—is aimed at promoting democracy and human rights in Belarus as well as ramping up pressure on “Europe’s last dictator” to respect the sovereignty of its own citizens.

            “The democracy-loving people of Belarus don’t want to see their country subjugated to Russia, and they certainly don’t want to participate in Russia’s war on Ukraine and its egregious war crimes—including the trafficking of innocent Ukrainian children,” said Rep. Chris Smith, who has authored four laws to date to support democracy in Belarus.

            “Sadly, Lukashenka has chosen to ignore the will of his people and has taken a different path,” Smith continued. “My new legislation reauthorizes and strengthens the four laws I have authored on Belarus—including the landmark Belarus Democracy Act of 2004—by providing new tools to sanction Lukashenka’s gross human rights abuses and to support patriotic Belarusians in their work for a free Belarus.”

            “The people of Belarus have been steadfast in their opposition to the Lukashenka regime and their commitment to human rights, rule of law, and freedom of expression,” said Ranking Member Keating. “The Belarus Democracy Act reaffirms the U.S. commitment to the Belarusian democratic opposition and upholding the values of the U.S.-Belarus Strategic Dialogue which includes holding the Lukashenka regime accountable, supporting civil society, and promoting Belarusian culture, language, and national identity.”

            “Alyaksandr Lukashenka is an illegitimate dictator,” said Chairman Kean. “It is evident from Lukashenka's fraudulent election to his cooperation with Vladimir Putin’s illegal war against Ukraine to his repression of the Belarusian people that we must redouble our efforts to pressure his regime. The U.S. and our allies must send a clear message that it will never be business as usual for Lukashenka as long as he represses the rights of his people and subjects the sovereignty of his country to aid Vladimir Putin’s imperial ambitions. I am proud to co-sponsor this crucial legislation to promote a free, democratic, and sovereign Belarus.”

            “The ongoing struggle to defend Liberty on the continent of Europe is as relevant and urgent today as it was generations ago when American Men and Women gave their lives for the cause of freedom during WWII. We must continue to combat Russian aggression and its poisonous influence in the region and around the globe by joining with likeminded allies to push back against the tide of tyranny,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). “This includes calling on all nations to uphold their obligations to protect human rights and hold free and fair elections. We must secure the repatriation of kidnapped Ukrainian children from Belarus, Russia, and wherever they may be held, and ensure that the Belarussian people can live freely and have a say in their own destiny.”

            “As a founding Co-Chair of the Friends of Belarus Caucus, I am grateful that this bill reaffirms U.S. support for the people of Belarus opposing the illegitimate Lukashenka regime, a puppet of war-criminal Putin,” said Rep. Joe Wilson. “The people of Belarus have been unwavering in their pursuit of freedom, human dignity, and Rule of Law over dictators who Rule by Gun, and we stand with them.”

            Among its provisions, HR 8329 would:

            · Reauthorize the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 for the fourth time following the Government of Belarus’ criminal involvement in Putin’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, trafficking of Ukrainian children, and opening of Belarusian territory to Russian military operations;

            · Expand the list of Belarusian authorities who may be subject to U.S. sanctions beyond the country’s senior leadership and security services to include those directly responsible for abducting Ukrainian children, cooperating with Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, and Russian militarization of Belarusian territory;

            · State that it is U.S. policy to:

                        o refuse to recognize Lukashenka as the legitimately elected leader of Belarus;

                        o continue to call for the immediate release of all political prisoners in Belarus, including U.S. citizen Vitali Shkliarov and leading opposition figure Maryia Kalesnikava; and

                        o refuse to recognize any incorporation of Belarus into a so-called “Union State” that is under the control of Russia;

            · Require the Secretary of State to report to Congress on crimes committed by the Government of Belarus in support of Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression in Ukraine; and

            · Authorize U.S. assistance to promote democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and sovereignty in Belarus.

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