Belarus Democracy and Human Rights Act of 2011
PL 112-82 (H.R.515), enacted 01/03/2012

125 STAT. 1863 
PUBLIC LAW 112–82—JAN. 3, 2012 
Public Law 112–82 
112th Congress 
An Act 
To reauthorize the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Belarus Democracy and Human 
Rights Act of 2011’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; STATEMENT OF POLICY. 
Sections 2 and 3 of the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 (Public 
Law 109–480; 22 U.S.C. 5811 note) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
‘‘Congress finds the following: 
‘‘(1) The Government of Belarus has engaged in a pattern 
of clear and uncorrected violations of human rights and funda-
mental freedoms. 
‘‘(2) The Government of Belarus has engaged in a pattern 
of clear and uncorrected violations of basic principles of demo-
cratic governance, including through a series of fundamentally 
flawed presidential and parliamentary elections undermining 
the legitimacy of executive and legislative authority in that 
country. 
‘‘(3) The Government of Belarus has subjected thousands 
of pro-democratic political activists to harassment, beatings, 
and jailings, particularly as a result of their attempts to peace-
fully exercise their right to freedom of assembly and association. 
‘‘(4) The Government of Belarus has attempted to maintain 
a monopoly over the country’s information space, targeting 
independent media, including independent journalists, for 
systematic reprisals and elimination, while suppressing the 
right to freedom of speech and expression of those dissenting 
from the dictatorship of Aleksandr Lukashenka, and adopted 
laws restricting the media, including the Internet, in a manner 
inconsistent with international human rights agreements. 
‘‘(5) The Government of Belarus continues a systematic 
campaign of harassment, repression, and closure of nongovern-
mental organizations, including independent trade unions and 
entrepreneurs, and this crackdown has created a climate of 
fear that inhibits the development of civil society and social 
solidarity. 
‘‘(6) The Government of Belarus has subjected leaders and 
members of select ethnic and religious minorities to harass-
ment, including the imposition of heavy fines and denying 
22 USC 5801 
note. 
Belarus 
Democracy and 
Human Rights 
Act of 2011. 
Jan. 3, 2012 
[H.R. 515] 
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125 STAT. 1864 
PUBLIC LAW 112–82—JAN. 3, 2012 
permission to meet for religious services, sometimes by selective 
enforcement of the 2002 Belarus religion law. 
‘‘(7) The Government of Belarus has attempted to silence 
dissent by persecuting human rights and pro-democracy activ-
ists with threats, firings, expulsions, beatings and other forms 
of intimidation, and restrictions on freedom of movement and 
prohibition of international travel. 
‘‘(8) The dictator of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenka, estab-
lished himself in power by orchestrating an illegal and unconsti-
tutional referendum that enabled him to impose a new constitu-
tion, abolishing the duly elected parliament, the 13th Supreme 
Soviet, installing a largely powerless National Assembly, 
extending his term in office, and removing applicable term 
limits. 
‘‘(9) The Government of Belarus has failed to make a con-
vincing effort to solve the cases of disappeared opposition fig-
ures Yuri Zakharenka, Viktor Gonchar, and Anatoly Krasovsky 
and journalist Dmitry Zavadsky, even though credible allega-
tions and evidence links top officials of the Government to 
these disappearance. 
‘‘(10) The Government of Belarus has restricted freedom 
of expression on the Internet by requiring Internet Service 
Providers to maintain data on Internet users and the sites 
they view and to provide such data to officials upon request, 
and by creating a government body with the authority to 
require Internet Service Providers to block Web sites. 
‘‘(11) On December 19, 2010, the Government of Belarus 
conducted a presidential election that failed to meet the stand-
ards of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe 
(OSCE) for democratic elections. 
‘‘(12) After the December 19, 2010, presidential election 
the Government of Belarus responded to opposition protests 
by beating scores of protestors and detaining more than 600 
peaceful protestors. 
‘‘(13) After the December 19, 2010, presidential election 
the Government of Belarus jailed seven of the nine opposition 
presidential candidates and abused the process of criminal 
prosecution to persecute them. 
‘‘(14) After the December 19, 2010, presidential election, 
the Government of Belarus disrupted independent broadcast 
and Internet media, and engaged in repressive actions against 
independent journalists. 
‘‘(15) After the December 19, 2010, presidential election, 
Belarusian security services and police conducted raids tar-
geting civil society groups, individual pro-democracy activists, 
and independent media. 
‘‘(16) After the December 19, 2010, presidential election, 
Belarusian officials refused to extend the mandate of the OSCE 
Office in Minsk. 
‘‘(17) After the December 19, 2010, presidential election, 
opposition candidates and activists have been persecuted and 
detainees have been physically mistreated, and denied access 
to family, defense counsel, medical treatment, and open legal 
proceedings. 
‘‘(18) After the December 19, 2010, presidential election, 
lawyers representing those facing criminal charges related to 
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125 STAT. 1865 
PUBLIC LAW 112–82—JAN. 3, 2012 
the post-election protest have been subjected to the revocation 
of licenses, disbarment, and other forms of pressure. 
‘‘(19) After the December 19, 2010, presidential election, 
the Government of Belarus has convicted political detainees 
to harsh prison sentences. 
‘‘(20) After the December 19, 2010, presidential election, 
the United States expanded its visa ban list, imposed additional 
financial sanctions on certain state-owned enterprises, and initi-
ated preparations to freeze the assets of several individuals 
in Belarus. The European Union imposed targeted travel and 
financial sanctions on an expanded list of officials of the Govern-
ment of Belarus. 
‘‘(21) After the December 19, 2010, presidential election, 
the United States fully restored sanctions against Belarus’s 
largest state-owned petroleum and chemical conglomerate and 
all of its subsidiaries. 
‘‘(22) After the December 19, 2010, presidential election, 
the United States has engaged in assistance efforts to provide 
legal and humanitarian assistance to those facing repression 
and preserving access to independent information, and has 
pledged resources to support human rights advocates, trade 
unions, youth and environmental groups, business associations, 
think-tanks, democratic political parties and movements, inde-
pendent journalists, newspapers and electronic media operating 
both inside Belarus and broadcasting from its neighbors, and 
to support access of Belarusian students to independent higher 
education and expand exchange programs for business and 
civil society leaders. 
‘‘(23) The Department of State, the Department of the 
Treasury, and other executive branch agencies have heretofore 
made effective use of this Act to promote the purposes of 
this Act, as stated in section 3 of this Act. 
‘‘SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 
‘‘It is the policy of the United States to— 
‘‘(1) condemn the conduct of the December 19, 2010, presi-
dential election and crackdown on opposition candidates, polit-
ical leaders, and activists, civil society representatives, and 
journalists; 
‘‘(2) continue to call for the immediate release without 
preconditions of all political prisoners in Belarus, including 
all those individuals detained in connection with the December 
19, 2010, presidential election; 
‘‘(3) continue to support the aspirations of the people of 
Belarus for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law; 
‘‘(4) continue to support the aspirations of the people of 
Belarus to preserve the independence and sovereignty of their 
country; 
‘‘(5) continue to support the growth of democratic move-
ments and institutions in Belarus, which empower the people 
of Belarus to end tyranny in their country; 
‘‘(6) continue to refuse to accept the results of the fun-
damentally flawed December 19, 2010, presidential election 
held in Belarus, and to support calls for new presidential and 
parliamentary elections, conducted in a manner that is free 
and fair according to OSCE standards; 
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125 STAT. 1866 
PUBLIC LAW 112–82—JAN. 3, 2012 
‘‘(7) continue to call for the fulfillment by the Belarusian 
government of Belarus’s freely undertaken obligations as an 
OSCE participating state; 
‘‘(8) continue to call for a full accounting of the disappear-
ances of opposition leaders and journalists in Belarus, including 
Victor Gonchar, Anatoly Krasovsky, Yuri Zakharenka, and 
Dmitry Zavadsky, and the prosecution of those individuals who 
are in any way responsible for the disappearance of those 
opposition leaders and journalists; 
‘‘(9) continue to work closely with the European Union 
and other countries and international organizations, to promote 
the conditions necessary for the integration of Belarus into 
the European family of democracies; 
‘‘(10) call on the International Ice Hockey Federation to 
suspend its plan to hold the 2014 International World Ice 
Hockey championship in Minsk until the Government of 
Belarus releases all political prisoners; and 
‘‘(11) remain open to reevaluating United States policy 
toward Belarus as warranted by demonstrable progress made 
by the Government of Belarus consistent with the aims of 
this Act as stated in this section.’’. 
SEC. 3. RADIO AND TELEVISION BROADCASTING TO BELARUS. 
Section 5 of the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 (Public Law 
109–480; 22 U.S.C. 5811 note) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 5. RADIO, TELEVISION, AND INTERNET BROADCASTING TO 
BELARUS. 
‘‘It is the sense of Congress that the President should support 
radio, television, and Internet broadcasting to the people of Belarus 
in languages spoken in Belarus, by Radio Free Europe/Radio Lib-
erty, the Voice of America, European Radio for Belarus, and 
Belsat.’’. 
SEC. 4. SANCTIONS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OF BELARUS. 
Section 6 of the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 (Public Law 
109–480; 22 U.S.C. 5811 note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘or expression, 
including those individuals jailed based on political beliefs 
or expression in connection with repression that attended 
the presidential election of December 19, 2010’’ before the 
period at the end; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘, including politically 
motivated legal charges made in connection with repression 
that attended the presidential election of December 19, 
2010’’ before the period at the end; 
(C) in paragraph (5), by inserting ‘‘and violations of 
human rights, including violations of human rights com-
mitted in connection with the presidential election of 
December 19, 2010’’ before the period at the end; and 
(D) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘‘internationally recog-
nized observers’’ and inserting ‘‘OSCE observers’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘subparagraph (A)’’ and inserting 
‘‘paragraph (1)’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end; 
Victor Gonchar, 
Anatoly 
Krasovsky, Yuri 
Zakharenka, and 
Dmitry 
Zavadsky. 
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125 STAT. 1867 
PUBLIC LAW 112–82—JAN. 3, 2012 
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the 
end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(4) is a member of any branch of the security or law 
enforcement services of Belarus and has participated in the 
violent crackdown on opposition leaders, journalists, and peace-
ful protestors that occurred in connection with the presidential 
election of December 19, 2010; or 
‘‘(5) is a member of any branch of the security or law 
enforcement services of Belarus and has participated in the 
persecution or harassment of religious groups, human rights 
defenders, democratic opposition groups, or independent media 
or journalists.’’; 
(3) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘of each international 
financial institution to which’’ and inserting ‘‘at each inter-
national financial institution of which’’; and 
(4) in subsection (f)(2)(B)(ii), by striking ‘‘(as defined in 
section 40102 of title 49, United States Code)’’. 
SEC. 5. REPORT. 
Section 8(a) of the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 (Public 
Law 109–480; 22 U.S.C. 5811 note) is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘this 
Act’’ and inserting ‘‘the Belarus Democracy and Human Rights 
Act of 2011’’; 
(2) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘sale or delivery of weapons 
or weapons-related technologies’’ and inserting ‘‘sale or delivery 
or provision of weapons or weapons-related technologies or 
weapons-related training’’; 
(3) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘involved in the sale’’ 
and inserting ‘‘or weapons-related training involved in the sale 
or delivery or provision’’; 
(4) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘or weapons-related 
training described in paragraph (1)’’ before the period at the 
end; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) The cooperation of the Government of Belarus with 
any foreign government or organization for purposes related 
to the censorship or surveillance of the Internet, or the purchase 
or receipt by the Government of Belarus of any technology 
or training from any foreign government or organization for 
purposes related to the censorship or surveillance of the Inter-
net.’’. 
SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 9 of the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 (Public Law 
109–480; 22 U.S.C. 5811 note) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Committee on Inter-
national Relations’’ and inserting ‘‘Committee on Foreign 
Affairs’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking ‘‘and prosecu-
tors’’ and inserting ‘‘, prosecutors, and heads of professional 
associations and educational institutions’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘Lukashenka 
regime’’ and inserting ‘‘Government of Belarus’’. 
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125 STAT. 1868 
PUBLIC LAW 112–82—JAN. 3, 2012 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 515: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 157 (2011): 
July 6, considered and passed House. 
Dec. 14, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Dec. 19, 20, House considered and concurred in Senate amendments. 
SEC. 7. FUNDING FOR REPORT. 
The requirement to prepare and transmit the report required 
under section 8 of the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 (Public 
Law 109–480; 22 U.S.C. 5811 note), as amended by section 5 
of this Act, shall be performed within current levels of authorized 
and appropriated funding. 
Approved January 3, 2012. 
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