III 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 105 

To condemn the December 19, 2010, elections in Belarus, and to call for 

the immediate release of all political prisoners and for new elections 

that meet international standards. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 17, 2011 

Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr. MCCAIN, Mr. CARDIN, Mrs. 

SHAHEEN, Mr. GRAHAM, Mr. KYL, Mr. BARRASSO, Mr. UDALL of Colorado, Mr. KIRK, and Mr. LAUTENBERG) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

To condemn the December 19, 2010, elections in Belarus, 

and to call for the immediate release of all political 

prisoners and for new elections that meet international 

standards. 

Whereas the people of Belarus have lived under the brutal 

dictatorship of Alexander Lukashenko for almost 2 decades; 

Whereas, under Mr. Lukashenko’s rule, Belarus—which is 

known as ‘‘the last dictatorship of Europe’’—has defied 

the post-Soviet democratic transformation that swept 

eastern and central Europe by maintaining an abhorrent 

human and political rights record and denying its citizens 

fundamental freedoms; 


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Whereas, according to the United States Department of State 

2009 Human Rights Country Report on Belarus, elections in Belarus are consistently unfair and undemocratic; politically motivated arrests and detentions are ongoing; Belarus’ judiciary is not independent; beatings, 

poor treatment, and disease are widespread in prisons in 

Belarus, where detainees lack access to food, proper 

clothing, and medical treatment; and the Government of 

Belarus has severely and systematically restricted basic 

freedoms of press, speech, assembly, association, and religion; 

Whereas Mr. Lukashenko had an opportunity to move 

Belarus closer to the community of democracies by holding free and fair presidential elections on December 19, 

2010, and allowing for multiple opposition candidates to 

run for president; 

Whereas the Lukashenko regime squandered this opportunity 

for the people of Belarus by orchestrating a fraudulent 

election that failed to meet minimal international standards; 

Whereas, following the elections, the Lukashenko regime arrested 5 of the 6 opposition presidential candidates, severely beating one candidate, Uladzimir Niakliayeu, and 

arbitrarily beating many of the thousands of Belarusians 

who were peacefully protesting the stolen election in the 

largest public demonstration the country had seen in over 

5 years; 

Whereas, during the course of election day and its aftermath, 

Lukashenko’s security forces, the State Security Agency 

(KGB), detained or arrested over 600 additional people, 

including journalists, civil society representatives, political 

activists, and ordinary Belarusians who were peacefully 


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seeking to exercise their fundamental human rights to 

free assembly and expression; 

Whereas the Organization for Security and Cooperation in 

Europe’s Election Observation Mission, which monitored 

the election in Belarus, issued a statement of preliminary 

findings and conclusions on December 20, 2010, that 

criticized the election’s campaign environment as ‘‘characterized by the lack of a level-playing field’’ and reported that international observers assessed the vote 

count as ‘‘non-transparent’’ and ‘‘bad or very bad in almost half of all observed polling stations’’; 

Whereas, according to Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe observers, prominent international 

websites, including Gmail and Hotmail, and Belarusian 

websites including Charter97.org, euroradio.by, 

gazetaby.com, and zapraudu.info were rendered inaccessible on election day; 

Whereas, on February 22, 2011, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe stated in its final report 

on the December 19, 2010, election that the final vote 

count was ‘‘flawed and lacked transparency’’; 

Whereas Department of State spokesperson Philip J. Crowley 

said on December 20, 2010, ‘‘We cannot consider the 

election results as legitimate.’’; 

Whereas, on December 20, 2010, the Obama Administration 

called for the release of all detained presidential candidates and protestors arrested around the election and 

strongly condemned the violence used by the Lukashenko 

regime to ‘‘undermine the democratic process’’; 

Whereas on December 23, 2010, Secretary of State Hillary 

Clinton and European Union High Representative for 


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Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton 

strongly condemned the Lukashenko regime’s disproportionate use of violence and called for ‘‘the immediate release of the presidential candidates and the over 600 

demonstrators who have been taken into custody in the 

wake of the presidential elections in Belarus’’; 

Whereas the heads of the foreign affairs committees of the 

German and Polish parliaments issued a joint statement 

on December 31, 2010, stating that the presidential election in Belarus showed ‘‘a complete lack of respect for 

European values and standards’’; 

Whereas, on January 20, 2011, the European Parliament 

adopted a resolution that condemns the December 19, 

2010, elections in Belarus and their violent aftermath; 

demands the immediate and unconditional release of political prisoners; and calls for ‘‘new elections to be held’’ 

in Belarus under ‘‘free and democratic conditions’’ and 

‘‘according to OSCE standards’’; 

Whereas, on December 31, 2010, the Government of Belarus 

refused to extend the mandate of the Organization for 

Security and Cooperation in Europe office in Minsk, 

thereby shuttering the democratic institution building efforts of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in 

Europe in Belarus; 

Whereas, on January 4, 2011, Department of State spokesperson Philip J. Crowley and Darren Ennis, Spokesperson for European Union High Representative Catherine Ashton, issued a joint statement expressing regret 

over the closure of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Office in Belarus and calling on authorities in Belarus ‘‘to fulfill their commitments to the 


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OSCE by reforming the election process and providing 

greater respect for human rights’’; 

Whereas the Belarusian KGB continues to detain at least 32 

political opposition leaders and activists associated with 

the December 19, 2010, elections who face dubious 

charges that carry prison sentences up to 15 years; 

Whereas, on February 28, 2011, Ales Mikhalevich, a presidential candidate who was arrested following the December 19, 2010, elections and released on January 19, 

2011, issued a statement detailing the abuse and torture 

that he endured during his 2-month detention by the 

Belarusian KGB, in violation of existing Belarusian laws 

as well as international agreements, including the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or 

Degrading Treatment or Punishment, done at New York 

December 10, 1984, to which Belarus has been a signatory since December 1985; 

Whereas families of presidential candidates and political opposition leaders and their lawyers face continued harassment and intimidation by Lukashenko’s KGB, including 

repeated interrogations, raids, pressure, and threats of 

dismissal from places of employment and schools; 

Whereas the detained presidential candidates and political opposition leaders are being denied regular access to family, 

lawyers, medical treatment, and open legal proceedings; 

Whereas authorities in Belarus continue to carry out searches 

and seizures across the country, including the offices and 

homes of journalists, political activists, civil society representatives, former presidential candidates and their advisers, and ordinary Belarusians with tenuous connections to members of the political opposition; 


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Whereas, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, an internationally reputable source on 

global arms trade, the Lukashenko regime delivered a 

shipment of military equipment to the Qaddafi regime in 

Libya in February 2011, just before Qaddafi prepared to 

initiate the widely condemned bloody crackdown undertaken against the people of Libya; 

Whereas, on January 31, 2011, the United States and the 

European Union imposed targeted travel and financial 

sanctions on an expanded list of officials of the Government of Belarus, including Alexander Lukashenko and 

those helping prop up his regime; 

Whereas, on January 31, 2011, the United States Government also restricted economic transactions with 

Lakokraska OAO and Polotsk Steklovolokno OAO, 2 subsidiaries of Belarus’s largest state-owned petroleum and 

chemical conglomerate, Belneftekhim; 

Whereas, on February 2, 2011, the United States Government pledged to supplement its democracy assistance to 

Belarus by $4,000,000 in fiscal year 2011; 

Whereas, on March 2, 2011, Lukashenko’s regime sentenced 

3 of the political detainees, Alyaksandr Atroshchankau, 

Zmitster Novik, and Alyaksandr Malchanau, to between 

3 and 4 years in a top-security prison; 

Whereas on March 4, 2011, Department of State Spokesman 

P.J. Crowley said, ‘‘The United States remains gravely 

concerned over the continuing post-election crackdown by 

the Government of Belarus on civil society, independent 

media, and the political opposition. Through its ongoing 

detentions, trials, and harsh prison sentences, the government is creating new political prisoners. We urge the unVerDate Mar 15 2010 01:29 Mar 18, 2011 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR105.ATS SR105

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conditional release of those detained in the crackdown 

without trials, and the creation of space for the free expression of political views, the development of civil society, and the ability of citizens to expand their contact 

with open societies.’’; and 

Whereas Congress passed the Belarus Democracy Act of 

2004 (Public Law 108–347) and the Belarus Democracy 

Reauthorization Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–480) as 

expressions of support consistent with these aims: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) condemns the December 19, 2010, election 

3 in Belarus as illegitimate, fraudulent, and not rep4 resentative of the will or the aspirations of the vot5 ers in Belarus, and joins the European Parliament 

6 in calling for new elections to be held in Belarus 

7 that meet international standards; 

8 (2) condemns the beating, arrest, fining, and 

9 imprisonment of presidential candidates, opposition 

10 leaders, and activists by Alexander Lukashenko’s 

11 KGB in the wake of the December 19, 2010, elec12 tion; 

13 (3) condemns the Lukashenko regime’s system14 atic efforts to prevent freedom of expression and as15 sociation in Belarus, including its efforts to censor 

16 the Internet and stifle freedom of the press; 


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1 (4) stands in solidarity with the people of 

2 Belarus, those political prisoners being unjustly de3 tained, and those who continue to fight for peaceful 

4 democratic change and their fundamental human 

5 rights in Belarus; 

6 (5) applauds the pledges of the United States 

7 Government and the European Union to impose tar8 geted sanctions, including visa bans and asset 

9 freezes, on Belarusian officials and their associates 

10 responsible for the recent crackdown and human 

11 rights abuses against the people of Belarus; 

12 (6) applauds the decisions of the United States 

13 Government, the European Union, and other demo14 cratic allies to expand assistance to civil society in 

15 Belarus; 

16 (7) calls on the Lukashenko regime— 

17 (A) to immediately and unconditionally re18 lease all political prisoners in Belarus who were 

19 arrested in association with the December 19, 

20 2010, election, including 3 presidential can21 didates, Andrei Sannikov, Nikolai Statkevich, 

22 and Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu, who are still in pris23 on or under house arrest; 


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1 (B) to immediately cease the harassment 

2 of the families, friends, and lawyers of political 

3 prisoners in Belarus; 

4 (C) to authorize the extension of the man5 date of the Organization for Security and Co6 operation in Europe Office in Belarus; 

7 (D) to hold new presidential and par8 liamentary elections in Belarus that are free, 

9 fair, inclusive, and meet international stand10 ards; and 

11 (E) to meet its international obligations 

12 and cease any illegal efforts related to the pro13 vision of arms to rogue regimes; 

14 (8) urges the President and the Secretary of 

15 State— 

16 (A) to continue to closely coordinate 

17 United States and European Union policies to18 wards Belarus; 

19 (B) to resume direct technical and material 

20 support to the opposition and civil society in 

21 Belarus, including political parties, civic groups, 

22 and independent media outlets; 

23 (C) to ensure that the United States list 

24 includes any other officials of the Government 

25 of Belarus responsible for the crackdown folVerDate Mar 15 2010 01:29 Mar 18, 2011 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR105.ATS SR105

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1 lowing the December 19, 2010, election in 

2 Belarus, associated human rights abuses, and 

3 the continued detention, prosecution, and mis4 treatment of all political prisoners, and to im5 pose targeted sanctions on those individuals and 

6 their family members where warranted; and 

7 (D) to identify any other entities that en8 rich Mr. Lukashenko and his regime at the ex9 pense of the people of Belarus and prohibit 

10 business with and freeze the assets of such enti11 ties; 

12 (9) urges the European Union— 

13 (A) to join the United States in prohibiting 

14 business with, and freezing the assets of, the 

15 Belarusian state-owned oil and petrochemicals 

16 company Belneftekhim and its subsidiaries 

17 Lakokraska OAO and Polotsk Steklovolokno 

18 OAO, as well as other entities that enrich Mr. 

19 Lukashenko and his regime at the expense of 

20 the people of Belarus; 

21 (B) to cut all European projects linked to 

22 the authorities in Belarus responsible for the 

23 crackdown and associated human rights abuses 

24 and to exclude officials of the Government of 

25 Belarus from meetings under the European 


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1 Union’s Eastern Partnership policy—including 

2 the planned European Union summit with post3 Soviet countries scheduled to take place in Bu4 dapest in May 2011—but to ensure that this 

5 suspension not apply to nongovernmental and 

6 civil society organizations in Belarus; 

7 (C) to ensure that the European Union list 

8 includes any other officials of the Government 

9 of Belarus responsible for the crackdown fol10 lowing the December 19, 2010, election in 

11 Belarus, associated human rights abuses, and 

12 the continued detention, prosecution, and mis13 treatment of political prisoners, and to impose 

14 targeted sanctions on those officials and their 

15 family members where warranted; and 

16 (D) to increase support to the opposition 

17 and civil society in Belarus, including political 

18 parties, civic groups, and independent media 

19 outlets; 

20 (10) calls on other members of the international 

21 community, including Russia, to take similar tar22 geted actions against the leaders of the Government 

23 of Belarus; 

24 (11) calls on the Government of Lithuania, as 

25 chair of the Organization for Security and CooperaVerDate Mar 15 2010 01:29 Mar 18, 2011 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR105.ATS SR105

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1 tion in Europe for 2011, to make the reestablish2 ment of the Organization for Security and Coopera3 tion in Europe Office in Belarus one of its chief pri4 orities for its tenure; and 

5 (12) calls on the International Ice Hockey Fed6 eration to suspend its 2014 International World Ice 

7 Hockey championship to be hosted in Minsk, 

8 Belarus until all political prisoners in Belarus are 

9 released. 

Æ 


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