109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5948
AN ACT 
To reauthorize the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Belarus Democracy 
Reauthorization Act of 2006’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Section 2 of the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 (22 
U.S.C. 5811 note) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
‘‘Congress makes the following findings: 
‘‘(1) The Government of the Republic of 
Belarus has engaged in a pattern of clear and uncor-
rected violations of human rights and fundamental 
freedoms. 
‘‘(2) The Government of Belarus has engaged 
in a pattern of clear and uncorrected violations of 
basic principles of democratic governance, including 
through a series of fundamentally flawed presi-
dential and parliamentary elections undermining the 
legitimacy of executive and legislative authority in 
that country. 
‘‘(3) The most recent presidential elections in 
Belarus held on March 19, 2006, failed to meet the 
commitments of the Organization for Security and 
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) for democratic elec-
tions and the arbitrary use of state power and wide-
spread detentions show a disregard for the basic 
rights of freedom of assembly, association, and ex-
pression, and raise doubts regarding the willingness 
of authorities in Belarus to tolerate political com-
petition. 
‘‘(4) The regime of Aleksandr Lukashenka has 
maintained power in Belarus by orchestrating an il-
legal and unconstitutional referendum that enabled 
him to impose a new constitution, abolish the duly-
elected parliament, the 13th Supreme Soviet, install 
a largely powerless National Assembly, extend his 
term of office, and remove applicable term limits. 
‘‘(5) The Government of Belarus has failed to 
make a credible effort to solve the cases of dis-
appeared opposition figures Yuri Zakharenka, Viktor 
Gonchar, and Anatoly Krasovsky in 1999 and jour-
nalist Dmitry Zavadsky in 2000, even though cred-
ible allegations and evidence exist linking top offi-
cials of the Lukashenka regime with these dis-
appearances. 
‘‘(6) Political opposition figures Aleksandr 
Kozulin, Tsimafei Dranchuk, Mikalay Astreyka, 
Artur Finkevich, Mikalay Razumau, Katsyaryna 
Sadouskaya, Zmitser Dashkevich, Mikhail Marynich, 
Mikalay Statkevych, Pavel Sevyarinets, Andrei 
Klimau, Valery Levaneusky, and Siarhei Skrebets
have been imprisoned or served ‘corrective labor’ 
sentences because of their political activity. 
‘‘(7) Hundreds of pro-democratic political activ-
ists have been subjected to frequent harassment and 
jailings, especially during, and in the aftermath of 
the fatally flawed March 19, 2006, presidential elec-
tions in Belarus. 
‘‘(8) The Government of Belarus has attempted 
to maintain a monopoly over the country’s informa-
tion space, targeting independent media for system-
atic reprisals and elimination, while suppressing the 
right to freedom of speech and expression of those 
dissenting from the regime. 
‘‘(9) The Belarusian authorities have perpet-
uated a climate of fear in Belarus by mounting a 
systematic crackdown on civil society through the 
harassment, repression, and closure of nongovern-
mental organizations and independent trade unions. 
‘‘(10) The Lukashenka regime has increasingly 
subjected leaders and members of minority and un-
registered religious communities to harassment, in-
cluding the imposition of heavy fines, denying per-
mission to meet for religious services, prosecutions, 
and jail terms for activities in the practice of their 
faith.
‘‘(11) The Belarusian authorities have further 
attempted to silence dissent through retribution 
against human rights and pro-democracy activists 
through threats, firings, expulsions, beatings and 
other forms of intimidation.’’. 
SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 
The Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 5811 
note) is amended—
(1) by striking section 8; 
(2) by redesignating sections 3 through 7 as 
sections 4 through 8, respectively; and 
(3) by inserting after section 2 the following 
new section: 
‘‘SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 
‘‘It is the policy of the United States—
‘‘(1) to call upon the immediate release without 
preconditions of all political prisoners in Belarus; 
‘‘(2) to support the aspirations of the people of 
the Republic of Belarus for democracy, human 
rights, and the rule of law; 
‘‘(3) to support the aspirations of the people of 
the Republic of Belarus to preserve the independ-
ence and sovereignty of their country;
‘‘(4) to seek and support the growth of demo-
cratic movements and institutions in Belarus, with 
the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in that country; 
‘‘(5) to refuse to accept the results of the fa-
tally flawed March 19, 2006, presidential elections 
held in Belarus and support the call for new presi-
dential elections; 
‘‘(6) to refuse to recognize any possible ref-
erendum, or the results of any referendum, that 
would affect the sovereignty of Belarus; and 
‘‘(7) to work closely with other countries and 
international organizations, including the European 
Union, to promote the conditions necessary for the 
integration of Belarus into the European community 
of democracies.’’. 
SEC. 4. ASSISTANCE TO PROMOTE DEMOCRACY AND CIVIL 
SOCIETY IN BELARUS. 
(a) PURPOSES OF ASSISTANCE.—Section 4(a) of the 
Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 5811 note) 
(as redesignated) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘regaining 
their freedom and to enable them’’ and inserting 
‘‘their pursuit of freedom, democracy, and human 
rights and in their aspiration’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2)—
(A) by striking ‘‘free and fair’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘free, fair, and transparent’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end before the period 
the following: ‘‘and independent domestic ob-
servers’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘restoring and 
strengthening institutions of democratic governance’’ 
and inserting ‘‘the development of a democratic po-
litical culture and civil society’’. 
(b) ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED.—Section 4(c) of the 
Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 5811 note) 
(as redesignated) is amended—
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (6) and (7) as 
paragraphs (7) and (8), respectively; 
(2) by striking paragraphs (1) through (5) and 
inserting the following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(1) expanding independent radio and television 
broadcasting to and within Belarus; 
‘‘(2) facilitating the development of independent 
broadcast, print, and Internet media working within 
Belarus and from locations outside the country and 
supported by nonstate-controlled printing facilities; 
‘‘(3) aiding the development of civil society 
through assistance to nongovernmental organizations 
promoting democracy and supporting human rights,
including youth groups, entrepreneurs, and inde-
pendent trade unions; 
‘‘(4) supporting the work of human rights de-
fenders; 
‘‘(5) enhancing the development of democratic 
political parties; 
‘‘(6) assisting the promotion of free, fair, and 
transparent electoral processes;’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (7) (as redesignated), by in-
serting 
‘‘enhancing’’ 
before 
‘‘international 
ex-
changes’’. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—
(1) AMENDMENT.—Section 4(d)(1) of the 
Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 5811 
note) (as redesignated) is amended by striking 
‘‘2005 and 2006’’ and inserting ‘‘2007 and 2008’’. 
(2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—The amendment 
made by paragraph (1) shall not be construed to af-
fect the availability of funds appropriated pursuant 
to the authorization of appropriations under section 
4(d) of the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 (as re-
designated) before the date of the enactment of this 
Act.
SEC. 
5. 
RADIO 
AND 
TELEVISION 
BROADCASTING 
TO 
BELARUS. 
(a) PURPOSE.—Section 5(a) of the Belarus Democ-
racy Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 5811 note) (as redesignated) 
is amended by striking ‘‘radio broadcasting’’ and inserting 
‘‘radio and television broadcasting’’. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
5(b) of the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 
5811 note) (as redesignated) is amended by striking 
‘‘radio broadcasting’’ and inserting ‘‘radio and television 
broadcasting’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 5 of the 
Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 5811 note) 
(as redesignated) is amended in the heading by striking 
‘‘RADIO BROADCASTING’’ and inserting ‘‘RADIO AND 
TELEVISION BROADCASTING’’. 
SEC. 
6. 
SANCTIONS 
AGAINST 
THE 
GOVERNMENT 
OF 
BELARUS. 
Section 6 of the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 (22 
U.S.C. 5811 note) (as redesignated) is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 6. SANCTIONS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OF 
BELARUS. 
‘‘(a) APPLICATION OF SANCTIONS.—The sanctions 
described in subsections (c) through (f) should apply with 
respect to the Republic of Belarus until the President de-
termines and certifies to the appropriate congressional 
committees that the Government of Belarus has made sig-
nificant progress in meeting the conditions described in 
subsection (b). 
‘‘(b) CONDITIONS.—The conditions referred to in 
subsection (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 activists and 
independent 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 in any way respon-
sible for their disappearances. 
‘‘(4) The cessation of all forms of harassment 
and repression against the independent media, inde-
pendent trade unions, nongovernmental organiza-
tions, youth groups, religious organizations (includ-
ing their leadership and members), and the political 
opposition in Belarus.
‘‘(5) The prosecution of senior leadership of the 
Government of Belarus responsible for the adminis-
tration of fraudulent elections. 
‘‘(6) A full accounting of the embezzlement of 
state assets by senior leadership of the Government 
of Belarus, their family members, and other associ-
ates. 
‘‘(7) The holding of free, fair and transparent 
presidential and parliamentary elections in Belarus 
consistent with OSCE standards and under the su-
pervision of internationally recognized observers and 
independent domestic observers. 
‘‘(c) DENIAL OF ENTRY INTO THE UNITED STATES 
OF SENIOR LEADERSHIP
OF
THE GOVERNMENT
OF 
BELARUS.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
the President may exercise the 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; 
‘‘(2) is an immediate family member of a per-
son inadmissible under subparagraph (A); or 
‘‘(3) through his or her business dealings with 
senior leadership of the Government of Belarus de-
rives significant financial benefit from policies or ac-
tions, including electoral fraud, human rights 
abuses, or corruption, that undermine or injure 
democratic institutions or impede the transition to 
democracy in Belarus. 
‘‘(d) PROHIBITION ON LOANS AND INVESTMENT.—
‘‘(1) UNITED
STATES
GOVERNMENT
FINANC-
ING.—It is the sense of Congress that no loan, credit 
guarantee, insurance, financing, or other similar fi-
nancial assistance should be extended by any agency 
of the Government of the United States (including 
the Export-Import Bank of the United States 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.—It 
is the sense of Congress that no funds available to 
the Trade and Development Agency should be avail-
able for activities of the Agency in or for Belarus. 
‘‘(e) MULTILATERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.—The 
Secretary of the Treasury should instruct the United 
States Executive Director of each international financial 
institution to which the United States is a member to use 
the voice and vote of the United States to oppose any ex-