IV 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 102 
Urging the appropriate representative of the United States to the 61st session 
of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to introduce a 
resolution calling upon the Government of the Republic of Belarus to 
cease its human rights violations, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 16, 2005 
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself and Mr. CARDIN) submitted the fol-
lowing concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
International Relations 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Urging the appropriate representative of the United States 
to the 61st session of the United Nations Commission 
on Human Rights to introduce a resolution calling upon 
the Government of the Republic of Belarus to cease 
its human rights violations, and for other purposes. 
Whereas the Government of the Republic of Belarus has en-
gaged in a pattern of clear, gross, and uncorrected viola-
tions of human rights and fundamental freedoms; 
Whereas the Government of Belarus continues to allow public 
officials and law enforcement officers to act with impu-
nity against democratic forces, independent journalists 
and media, independent trade union members, and 
human rights activists;
•HCON 102 IH 
Whereas on April 8, 2004, the United Nations Commission 
on Human Rights approved a resolution, urging impar-
tial, credible and full investigation into forced disappear-
ances in Belarus, and summary executions on the dis-
appearances, urging the Government of Belarus to con-
duct an impartial investigation; 
Whereas the Government of Belarus has made no credible ef-
fort to solve the cases of Yuri Zakharenka, Viktor 
Gonchar, and Anatoly Krasovsky in 1999 and journalist 
Dmitry Zavadsky in 2000, even though former officials of 
the Government of Belarus have come forward with cred-
ible allegations and evidence that top officials of the 
Lukashenka regime were involved in these disappear-
ances; 
Whereas the United Nations Commission on Human Rights 
appointed as Special Rapporteur Adrian Severin to exam-
ine the situation of human rights in Belarus and report 
on efforts to develop human rights education for all sec-
tors of society, including law enforcement, the judiciary, 
prison officials, and civil society; 
Whereas Belarusian authorities denied Mr. Severin a visa to 
visit Belarus in his capacity as Special Rapporteur in De-
cember 2004; 
Whereas Belarusian authorities have subjected opposition po-
litical parties and movements to increased pressure 
through both judicial and extrajudicial measures; 
Whereas political opposition figure Mikhail Marynich was 
sentenced in December 2004 and remains in prison on 
politically-motivated charges, and opposition activists 
Valery Levonevskiy and Aleksandr Vasilev were sentenced
•HCON 102 IH 
in September 2004 to 2 years imprisonment for author-
ing a poem ‘‘insulting President Lukashenka’’; 
Whereas the October 17, 2004, parliamentary elections and 
referendum removing term limits for the office of the 
President in Belarus failed to meet Organization for Se-
curity and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and other 
international democratic standards and is the latest in a 
series of flawed elections; 
Whereas Belarusian authorities have mounted a major sys-
tematic crackdown on civil society through the closure, 
harassment, and repression of nongovernmental organiza-
tions and independent trade unions and through beatings 
and detentions of peaceful demonstrators; 
Whereas the International Labor Organization’s Commission 
of Inquiry has concluded that several trade unions in 
Belarus have been denied the right to bargain collectively 
because of the deregistration and non-registration of 
independent unions; 
Whereas Belarusian authorities actively suppress freedom of 
speech and expression, including engaging in systematic 
reprisals against independent media; 
Whereas police abuse and torture of prisoners and detainees 
continues in Belarus; 
Whereas Belarusian authorities restrict in practice the right 
to freedom of religion and have increased their harass-
ment of some religious groups; and 
Whereas Congress passed the Belarus Democracy Act of 
2004 and the President signed the measure into law on 
October 24, 2004 (Public Law 108–347): Now, therefore, 
be it
•HCON 102 IH 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that — 
(1) the Government of the Republic of Belarus 
should immediately cease its clear, gross, and uncor-
rected violations of human rights and fundamental 
freedoms, including persecution of political oppo-
nents and independent journalists, and release those 
individuals who have been imprisoned for opposing 
the regime in Belarus or for exercising their right to 
freedom of speech; 
(2) the Government of Belarus should imme-
diately release political prisoners Mikhail Marynich, 
Valery Levonevskiy, and Aleksandr Vasilev; 
(3) the Government of Belarus should thor-
oughly and transparently investigate the disappear-
ance of Victor Gonchar, Anatoly Krasovsky, Yuri 
Zakharenka, and Dmitry Zavadsky; 
(4) the Government of the United States should 
continue to insist that the Republic of Belarus re-
spect the fundamental human rights of its citizens; 
(5) at the 61st Session of the United Nations 
Human Rights Commission in Geneva, Switzerland, 
the appropriate representative of the United States 
should introduce a resolution detailing the human 
rights situation within the Republic of Belarus and
•HCON 102 IH 
urging the Government of Belarus to abide by inter-
nationally recognized human rights standards; 
(6) the Government of the United States should 
work with other members of the United Nations 
Human Rights Commission in organizing multilat-
eral support to obtain passage of the resolution re-
ferred to in paragraph (5); and 
(7) United States Government officials and offi-
cials from other governments should continue to 
speak out in international fora, including the Orga-
nization for Security and Cooperation in Europe 
(OSCE), against the Belarusian Government’s sup-
pression of human rights and political freedoms in 
keeping with that country’s obligations as a partici-
pating State of the OSCE. 
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