Number: RL32534
Title: Belarus: Background and U.S. Policy Options
Authors: Steven Woehrel, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division 
Abstract: Congress has responded to the situation in Belarus with legislation. The Belarus Democracy Act, signed by President Bush in October 2004 (P.L. 108-347), authorizes aid for pro-democracy forces in Belarus and funding for increased broadcasting to Belarus by Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The bill supports sanctions on Belarus and top leaders of the Lukashenko regime until Belarus meets specific democratic and human rights criteria. The bill also requires the President to report within 90 days and every year thereafter on the sale by Belarus of weapons or weapons-related assistance to regimes supporting terrorism, and on the personal wealth of Lukashenko and other senior Belarusian leaders. The 109th Congress passed several resolutions criticizing human rights abuses and calling on Belarus to hold free and fair elections. In January 2007, President Bush signed the Belarus Democracy Reauthorization Act (P.L. 109-480), which reauthorized and updated the provisions of the 2004 law.
Pages: 12
Date: October 14, 2008