H. Res. 673
In the House of Representatives, U.S., 
March 8, 2006.
Whereas the establishment of a democratic, transparent, and 
fair election process for the 2006 presidential election in 
the Republic of Belarus and of a genuinely democratic 
political system are prerequisites for that country’s inte-
gration into the Western community of nations; 
Whereas the Government of Belarus has accepted numerous 
specific commitments governing the conduct of elections 
as a participating State of the Organization for Security 
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), including provisions 
of the 1990 Copenhagen Document; 
Whereas these commitments, which encourage transparency, 
balance, and impartiality in an election process, have be-
come the standard by which observers determine whether 
elections have been conducted freely and fairly; 
Whereas the election on March 19, 2006, of the next presi-
dent of Belarus will provide an unambiguous test of the 
extent of the commitment of the Belarusian authorities 
to implement these standards and build a democratic so-
ciety based on free elections and the rule of law; 
Whereas previous elections in Belarus have not met inter-
national standards;
•HRES 673 EH 
Whereas the 2004 vote on the constitutional referendum in 
Belarus did not meet international standards; 
Whereas it is the duty of government and public authorities 
at all levels to act in a manner consistent with all laws 
and regulations governing election procedures and to en-
sure free and fair elections throughout the entire country, 
including preventing activities aimed at undermining the 
free exercise of political rights; 
Whereas a genuinely free and fair election requires a period 
of political campaigning conducted in an environment in 
which neither administrative action nor violence, intimi-
dation, or detention hinder the parties, political associa-
tions, and the candidates from presenting their views and 
qualifications to the citizenry, including organizing sup-
porters, conducting public meetings and events through-
out the country, and enjoying unimpeded access to tele-
vision, radio, print, and Internet media on an equal basis; 
Whereas a genuinely free and fair election requires that citi-
zens be guaranteed the right and effective opportunity to 
exercise their civil and political rights, including the right 
to vote free from intimidation, threats of political retribu-
tion, or other forms of coercion by national or local au-
thorities or others; 
Whereas a genuinely free and fair election requires the full 
transparency of laws and regulations governing elections, 
multiparty representation on election commissions, and 
unobstructed access by candidates, political parties, and 
domestic and international observers to all election proce-
dures, including voting and vote-counting in all areas of 
the country;
•HRES 673 EH 
Whereas control and manipulation of the media by national 
and local officials and others acting at their behest could 
raise grave concerns regarding the commitment of the 
Belarusian authorities to free and fair elections; 
Whereas efforts by national and local officials and others act-
ing at their behest to impose obstacles to free assembly, 
free speech, and a free and fair political campaign will 
call into question the fairness of the upcoming election in 
Belarus; and 
Whereas the arrest or intimidation of opposition political par-
ties and candidates, such as the leader of the Unified 
Democratic Forces and other people involved with the op-
position, represents a deliberate assault on the demo-
cratic process: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) looks forward to the development of cordial rela-
tions between the United States and the Republic of 
Belarus; 
(2) emphasizes that a precondition for the integra-
tion of Belarus into the Western community of nations 
is its establishment of a genuinely democratic political 
system; 
(3) expresses its strong and continuing support for 
the efforts of the Belarusian people to establish a full 
democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights 
in Belarus; 
(4) urges the Government of Belarus to guarantee 
freedom of association and assembly, including the right