Belarus Democracy, Human Rights, and Sovereignty Act of 2025
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · May 7, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
The Belarus Democracy, Human Rights, and Sovereignty Act of 2025 updates and strengthens U.S. policy toward Belarus by condemning the Lukashenka regime's rigged elections, suppression of dissent, and support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The bill authorizes funding for democracy-promotion efforts including independent media, civil society development, and investigations into human rights violations, while requiring existing sanctions on Belarusian officials to remain in place until the government withdraws Russian forces and returns abducted Ukrainian children. The legislation establishes new mandatory and discretionary sanctions against Belarusian officials and Russian individuals involved in election fraud, human rights abuses, child abductions, or support for Russian military operations, with provisions allowing the president to waive sanctions with congressional notification for humanitarian aid and national security purposes. Within 90 days of enactment, intelligence officials must submit a comprehensive report on Russian military presence in Belarus, the regime's role in supporting Russian operations, weapons trafficking, sanctions evasion, and border destabilization affecting NATO allies.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.