SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that—
(1) the United States supports the promotion of 
democracy, respect for human rights, and the rule of 
law in the Republic of Belarus consistent with its 
commitments as a participating state of the Organi-
zation for Security and Cooperation in Europe 
(OSCE); 
(2) the United States has a vital interest in the 
independence and sovereignty of the Republic of 
Belarus and its integration into the European com-
munity of democracies; 
(3) the last parliamentary election in Belarus 
deemed to be free and fair by the international com-
munity was conducted in 1995 from which emerged 
the 13th Supreme Soviet whose democratically and 
constitutionally derived authorities and powers have 
been usurped by the authoritarian regime of Presi-
dent Aleksandr Lukashenka; 
(4) in November 1996, Lukashenka orches-
trated an illegal and unconstitutional referendum 
that enabled him to impose a new constitution, abol-
ish the duly-elected parliament, the 13th Supreme 
Soviet, install a largely powerless National Assembly, 
and extend his term of office to 2001;
(5) in May 1999, Belarusian democratic forces 
challenged Lukashenka’s unconstitutional extension 
of his presidential term by staging alternative presi-
dential elections which were met with repression; 
(6) Belarusian democratic forces have organized 
peaceful demonstrations against the Lukashenka re-
gime in cities and towns throughout Belarus which 
led to beatings, mass arrests, and extended incarcer-
ations; 
(7) Victor Gonchar, Anatoly Krasovsky, and 
Yuri Zakharenka, who have been leaders and sup-
porters of the democratic forces, and Dmitry 
Zavadsky, a journalist known for his critical report-
ing, have disappeared and are presumed dead; 
(8) former Belarus Government officials have 
come forward with credible allegations and evidence 
that top officials of the Lukashenka regime were in-
volved in the disappearances; 
(9) the Lukashenka regime systematically 
harasses and represses the independent media and 
independent trade unions, imprisons independent 
journalists, and actively suppresses freedom of 
speech and expression; 
(10) the Lukashenka regime harasses the 
autocephalic Belarusian Orthodox Church, the
Roman Catholic Church, the Jewish community, the 
Hindu Lights of Kalyasa community, evangelical 
Protestant churches (such as Baptist and Pente-
costal groups), and other minority religious groups; 
(11) the Law on Religious Freedom and Reli-
gious Organizations, passed by the National Assem-
bly and signed by Lukashenka on October 31, 2002, 
establishes one of the most repressive legal regimes 
in the OSCE region, severely limiting religious free-
dom and placing excessively burdensome government 
controls on religious practice; 
(12) the United States, the European Union, 
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) 
Parliamentary Assembly, and the OSCE Parliamen-
tary Assembly have not recognized the National As-
sembly; 
(13) the parliamentary elections of October 15, 
2000, conducted in the absence of a democratic elec-
tion law, were illegitimate, unconstitutional, plagued 
by violent human rights abuses committed by the 
Lukashenka regime, and determined to be non-
democratic by the OSCE; and 
(14) the presidential election of September 9, 
2001, was determined by the OSCE and other ob-
servers to be fundamentally unfair and failed to
meet the OSCE commitments for democratic elec-
tions formulated in the 1990 Copenhagen Document 
and featured significant and abusive misconduct by 
the Lukashenka regime, including—
(A) the harassment, arrest, and imprison-
ment of opposition members; 
(B) the denial of equal and fair access by 
opposition candidates to the state-controlled 
media; 
(C) the seizure of equipment and property 
of independent nongovernmental organizations 
and press organizations and the harassment of 
their staff and management; 
(D) voting and vote counting procedures 
that were not transparent; and 
(E) a campaign of intimidation directed 
against opposition activists, domestic election 
observation organizations, opposition and inde-
pendent media, and a libelous media campaign 
against international observers. 
SEC. 3. ASSISTANCE TO PROMOTE DEMOCRACY AND CIVIL 
SOCIETY IN BELARUS. 
(a) PURPOSES
OF
ASSISTANCE.—The assistance 
under this section shall be available for the following pur-
poses:
(1) To assist the people of the Republic of 
Belarus in regaining their freedom and to enable 
them to join the European community of democ-
racies. 
(2) To encourage free and fair presidential, 
parliamentary, and local elections in Belarus, con-
ducted in a manner consistent with internationally 
accepted standards and under the supervision of 
internationally recognized observers. 
(3) To assist in restoring and strengthening in-
stitutions of democratic governance in Belarus. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION FOR ASSISTANCE.—To carry out 
the purposes of subsection (a), the President is authorized 
to furnish assistance and other support for the activities 
described in subsection (c), to be provided primarily for 
indigenous Belarusian groups that are committed to the 
support of democratic processes. 
(c) ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED.—Activities that may be 
supported by assistance under subsection (b) include—
(1) the observation of elections and the pro-
motion of free and fair electoral processes; 
(2) development of democratic political parties; 
(3) radio and television broadcasting to and 
within Belarus;
(4) the development of nongovernmental organi-
zations promoting democracy and supporting human 
rights; 
(5) the development of independent media 
working within Belarus and from locations outside 
the country and supported by nonstate-controlled 
printing facilities; 
(6) international exchanges and advanced pro-
fessional training programs for leaders and members 
of the democratic forces in skill areas central to the 
development of civil society; and 
(7) other activities consistent with the purposes 
of this Act. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the President to carry out this sec-
tion $40,000,000 for fiscal years 2004 and 2005. 
(2) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Amounts appro-
priated pursuant to the authorization of appropria-
tions under paragraph (1) are authorized to remain 
available until expended. 
SEC. 4. RADIO BROADCASTING TO BELARUS. 
(a) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this section to 
authorize increased support for United States Government 
and surrogate radio broadcasting to the Republic of
Belarus that will facilitate the unhindered dissemination 
of information. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—In addi-
tion to such sums as are otherwise authorized to be appro-
priated, there is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 
for each fiscal year for Voice of America and RFE/RL, 
Incorporated for radio broadcasting to the people of 
Belarus in languages spoken in Belarus. 
(c) REPORTING ON RADIO BROADCASTING TO AND 
IN BELARUS.—Not later than 120 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall sub-
mit to the appropriate congressional committees a report 
on how funds appropriated and allocated pursuant to the 
authorizations of appropriations under subsection (b) and 
section 3(d) will be used to provide AM and FM broad-
casting that covers the territory of Belarus and delivers 
independent and uncensored programming. 
SEC. 
5. 
SANCTIONS 
AGAINST 
THE 
GOVERNMENT 
OF 
BELARUS. 
(a) APPLICATION OF SANCTIONS.—The sanctions de-
scribed in subsections (c) through (e) shall apply with re-
spect to the Republic of Belarus until the President deter-
mines and certifies to the appropriate congressional com-
mittees that the Government of Belarus has made signifi-
cant progress in meeting the conditions described in sub-
section (b). 
(b) CONDITIONS.—The conditions referred to in sub-
section (a) are the following: 
(1) The release of individuals in Belarus who 
have been jailed based on political or religious be-
liefs. 
(2) The withdrawal of politically motivated legal 
charges against all opposition figures and inde-
pendent journalists in Belarus. 
(3) A full accounting of the disappearances of 
opposition leaders and journalists in Belarus, includ-
ing Victor Gonchar, Anatoly Krasovsky, Yuri 
Zakharenka, and Dmitry Zavadsky, and the prosecu-
tion of those individuals who are responsible for 
their disappearances. 
(4) The cessation of all forms of harassment 
and repression against the independent media, inde-
pendent trade unions, nongovernmental organiza-
tions, religious organizations (including their leader-
ship and members), and the political opposition in 
Belarus. 
(5) The implementation of free and fair presi-
dential and parliamentary elections in Belarus con-
sistent with OSCE standards on democratic elections 
and in cooperation with relevant OSCE institutions. 
(c) DENIAL OF ENTRY INTO THE UNITED STATES 
OF BELARUSIAN OFFICIALS.—It is the sense of Congress 
that the President should use his authority under section 
212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1182(f)) to deny the entry into the United States of any 
alien who—
(1) holds a position in the senior leadership of 
the Government of Belarus; or 
(2) is a spouse, minor child, or agent of a per-
son inadmissible under paragraph (1). 
(d) PROHIBITION
ON
STRATEGIC
EXPORTS
TO 
BELARUS.—
(1) PROHIBITION.—No computers, computer 
software, goods or technology intended to manufac-
ture or service computers, or any other related goods 
or technology may be exported to Belarus for use by 
the Government of Belarus, or by its military, police, 
prison system, or national security agencies. The 
prohibition of the preceding sentence shall not apply 
with respect to the export of goods or technology for 
democracy-building or humanitarian purposes. 
(2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this 
subsection shall prevent the issuance of licenses to
ensure the safety of civil aviation and safe operation 
of United States–origin commercial passenger air-
craft and to ensure the safety of ocean-going mari-
time traffic in international waters. 
(e) PROHIBITION ON LOANS AND INVESTMENT.—
(1) UNITED
STATES
GOVERNMENT
FINANC-
ING.—No loan, credit guarantee, insurance, financ-
ing, or other similar financial assistance may be ex-
tended by any agency of the United States Govern-
ment (including the Export-Import Bank and the 
Overseas Private Investment Corporation) to the 
Government of Belarus, except with respect to the 
provision of humanitarian goods and agricultural or 
medical products. 
(2) TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY.—No 
funds available to the Trade and Development Agen-
cy may be available for activities of the Agency in 
or for Belarus. 
(f) MULTILATERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.—It is 
the sense of Congress that, in addition to the application 
of the sanctions described in subsections (c) through (e) 
to the Republic of Belarus (until the President determines 
and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees 
that the Government of Belarus has made significant 
progress in meeting the conditions described in subsection
(b)), the Secretary of the Treasury should instruct the 
United States Executive Director of each international fi-
nancial institution to which the United States is a member 
to use the voice and vote of the United States to oppose 
any extension by those institutions of any financial assist-
ance (including any technical assistance or grant) of any 
kind to the Government of Belarus, except for loans and 
assistance that serve humanitarian needs. 
(g) WAIVER.—The President may waive the applica-
tion of any sanction described in this section with respect 
to Belarus if the President determines and certifies to the 
appropriate congressional committees that it is important 
to the national interests of the United States to do so. 
SEC. 6. MULTILATERAL COOPERATION. 
It is the sense of Congress that the President should 
continue to seek to coordinate with other countries, par-
ticularly European countries, a comprehensive, multilat-
eral strategy to further the purposes of this Act, including, 
as appropriate, encouraging other countries to take meas-
ures with respect to the Republic of Belarus that are simi-
lar to measures described in this Act. 
SEC. 7. REPORT. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, and every year thereafter, the 
President shall transmit to the appropriate congressional
committees a report that describes, with respect to the 
preceding 12-month period, the following: 
(1) The sale or delivery of weapons or weapons-
related technologies from the Republic of Belarus to 
any country, the government of which the Secretary 
of State has determined, for purposes of section 
6(j)(1) of the Export Administration Act of 1979 
(50 U.S.C. App. 2405(j)(1)), has repeatedly pro-
vided support for acts of international terrorism. 
(2) An identification of each country described 
in paragraph (1) and a detailed description of the 
weapons or weapons-related technologies involved in 
the sale. 
(3) An identification of the goods, services, 
credits, or other consideration received by Belarus in 
exchange for the weapons or weapons-related tech-
nologies. 
(4) The personal assets and wealth of Alek-
sandr Lukashenka and other senior leadership of the 
Government of Belarus. 
(b) FORM.—A report transmitted pursuant to sub-
section (a) shall be in unclassified form but may contain 
a classified annex. 
SEC. 8. DECLARATION OF POLICY. 
Congress hereby—
(1) expresses its support to those in the Repub-
lic of Belarus seeking—
(A) to promote democracy, human rights, 
and the rule of law and to consolidate the inde-
pendence and sovereignty of Belarus; and 
(B) to promote its integration into the Eu-
ropean community of democracies; 
(2) expresses its grave concern about the dis-
appearances of Victor Gonchar, Anatoly Krasovsky, 
Yuri Zakharenka, and Dmitry Zavadsky; 
(3) calls upon the Lukashenka regime to cease 
its persecution of political opponents or independent 
journalists and to release those individuals who have 
been imprisoned for opposing his regime or for exer-
cising their right to freedom of speech; 
(4) calls upon the Lukashenka regime to end 
the pattern of clear, gross, and uncorrected viola-
tions of relevant Organization for Security and Co-
operation in Europe (OSCE) human dimension com-
mitments and to respect the basic freedoms of 
speech, expression, assembly, association, language, 
culture, and religion or belief; 
(5) calls upon the Government of the Russian 
Federation to use its influence to encourage demo-
cratic development in Belarus so that Belarus can
become a democratic, prosperous, sovereign, and 
independent state that is integrated into Europe; 
(6) calls upon the Government of Belarus to re-
solve the continuing constitutional and political crisis 
through free, fair, and transparent presidential and 
parliamentary elections, including, as called for by 
the OSCE, through respect for human rights, an 
end to the current climate of fear, meaningful access 
by the opposition to state media, modification of the 
electoral code in keeping with OSCE commitments, 
engagement in genuine talks with the opposition, 
and modifications to allow for genuine authority for 
the parliament; and 
(7) commends the democratic opposition in 
Belarus for their commitment to freedom, their 
courage in the face of the repression of the 
Lukashenka regime in Belarus, and the emergence 
of a pluralist civil society in Belarus—the foundation 
for the development of democratic political struc-
tures. 
SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means the Committee on International Re-
lations of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate. 
(2) OSCE.—The term ‘‘OSCE’’ means the Or-
ganization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. 
(3) SENIOR LEADERSHIP OF THE GOVERNMENT 
OF BELARUS.—The term ‘‘senior leadership of the 
Government of Belarus’’ includes—
(A) the President, Prime Minister, Deputy 
Prime Ministers, government ministers, Chair-
men of State Committees, and members of the 
Presidential Administration of Belarus; 
(B) any official of the Government of 
Belarus who is personally and substantially in-
volved in the suppression of freedom in Belarus, 
including judges and prosecutors; and 
(C) any other individual determined by the 
Secretary of State (or the Secretary’s designee) 
to be personally and substantially involved in 
the formulation or execution of the policies of 
the Lukashenka regime that are in contradic-
tion of internationally recognized human rights 
standards.
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