The House International Relations Committee Europe Subcommittee today approved Vice Chairman Chris Smith’s (NJ-4) Belarus Democracy Act of 2003.

    Smith’s legislation will impose sanctions against the regime of President Alexander Lukashenka, which has repeatedly violated basic freedoms of speech, assembly, and religion.  It also calls for the withholding of all non-humanitarian U.S. aid and prohibits officials of the Lukashenka regime from traveling to the U.S.

    “The primary purpose of this bill is to demonstrate our nation’s support for those who are struggling to promote democracy and human rights in Belarus in the face of formidable pressures being applied by the Lukashenka regime,” Smith said.

    “I hope my legislation will help to put an end to the pattern of clear, gross, and uncorrected human rights violations by the Lukashenka regime and will transform Belarus into Europe’s next democratic nation,” he added.

    The bill will also authorize increased U.S. support for efforts to promote democracy and human rights by aiding such activities promoted by non-governmental organizations, independent media, and other means.  It also calls for free and fair elections unlike those held in 2000 and 2001 that were tainted and fixed by the Lukashenka regime.

    News reports also indicate that Lukashenka has sold arms to rogue nations including Iraq and North Korea.  Last October, he signed into law the most restrictive religion policy in Europe; and credible information exists saying he is behind the disappearance of opposition figures and journalists.

    “The Belarusian people deserve to live in a society where democratic principles and human rights are respected and the rule of law is paramount.  The people of Belarus, who have suffered so much under Soviet rule and now under Lukashenka, deserve our support to develop a genuinely independent, democratic nation,” Smith said.