Condemning the fraudulent January 2025 Belarusian presidential election and the Lukashenka regime's continued autocratic rule, calling for continued support for the people of Belarus who seek a democratic future, and calling for free and fair elections in Belarus in line with international standards.

House Resolution

H.Res. 73

119th Congress

Condemning the fraudulent January 2025 Belarusian presidential election and the Lukashenka regime's continued autocratic rule, calling for continued support for the people of Belarus who seek a democratic future, and calling for free and fair elections in Belarus in line with international standards.

In Committee

Introduced:Jan 28, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Hakeem S. Jeffries

Representative

Democratic

NY-8

Cosponsors

10

Quick Stats

Policy Area

International Affairs

Summary

This resolution condemns the January 2025 Belarusian presidential election as neither free nor fair and calls for elections meeting international standards. It condemns the Lukashenka regimes repression of democratic opposition, support for Russias war against Ukraine, and complicity in forcibly transferring Ukrainian children. It supports additional sanctions and continued democratic opposition support.

Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This resolution condemns the January 2025 Belarusian presidential election as neither free nor fair and calls for elections meeting international standards. It condemns the Lukashenka regimes repression of democratic opposition, support for Russias war against Ukraine, and complicity in forcibly transferring Ukrainian children. It supports additional sanctions and continued democratic opposition support.

Last updated: 1/4/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

<p>This resolution condemns the Belarusian presidential election of January 26, 2025, as neither free nor fair and calls on the Lukashenka regime to hold free and fair elections with credible international monitoring. The resolution also condemns the Lukashenka regime's (1) repression of the Belarusian democratic opposition, (2) support for Russia's war against Ukraine, and (3) complicity in the forcible transfer of Ukrainian children from Ukraine.</p><p>The resolution supports additional sanctions against the regime and calls for continued support to the Belarusian democratic opposition.  </p>

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Condemns January 2025 Belarus election as unfree
Calls for internationally monitored elections
Condemns repression of democratic opposition
Condemns support for Russian war in Ukraine
Condemns forced transfer of Ukrainian children
Supports sanctions and democratic opposition

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This resolution addresses Belarusian democratic backsliding and the regimes role in enabling Russian aggression. The Lukashenka regime has been in power since 1994 with disputed elections, and the 2020 protests were brutally suppressed. By linking Belarus support for Russia and the Ukrainian child transfer issue to the broader democracy question, the resolution connects multiple human rights concerns and signals continued U.S. support for Belarusian democracy advocates.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

International Affairs

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

73, 119th Congress (2025). "Condemning the fraudulent January 2025 Belarusian presidential election and the Lukashenka regime's continued autocratic rule, calling for continued support for the people of Belarus who seek a democratic future, and calling for free and fair elections in Belarus in line with international standards.". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hres-73