United States House Of Representatives Passed Resolution In Support Of People Of Belarus

An overwhelming majority of congressmen from both parties have voted for it.

The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a resolution "In support of the people of Belarus and their democratic aspirations, and in condemnation of the fraudulent election results and the subsequent violent repression of peaceful protests by the illegitimate Lukashenka regime".

This is stated in the voting report published on the website of House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, the Voice of America informs.

The resolution was supported by an overwhelming majority of congressmen from both parties - 355 people. Sixty-nine congressmen voted against the resolution, and five legislators were absent during the vote.

The text of the resolution gives evidence of repressions against citizens of Belarus, who expressed their disagreement with Lukashenka's regime, including journalists who were detained many times during the protests. Several representatives of the independent press were sentenced to actual prison terms.

In addition, as noted in the resolution, the regime applied various sanctions to Lukashenka's opponents, including firing from jobs, expulsion from universities, and threats of termination of parental rights.

The document emphasized, that the U.S. does not recognize the results of the elections in Belarus on August 9th, as they were "neither free nor fair". According to the text of the resolution, the United States recognizes the Coordinating Council as a "legitimate body to participate in the dialogue on the peaceful transition of power".

The House of Representatives demands the release of all political prisoners and calls for joint sanctions against Lukashenka's regime by the US, EU and partner countries.

The resolution is not a binding law. The document expresses the common position of the lower house of Congress and serves as guidelines. The full text of Resolution № 124 is published on the site of the House of Representatives.