The statement

The statement, voiced by Rep. Chris Smith, Co-Chair, Helsinki Commission, on Belarus in debate on Foreign Relations Authorization Act, which passed the House of Representatives by a 382-42 vote on July 16. “I am pleased that Title XV of the State Department authorization bill incorporates key provisions of the Belarus Democracy Act of 2003, which I sponsored earlier this year. The State Department`s annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices report on Belarus states that the Belarusian regime`s “human rights record remained very poor and worsened in several areas,” – said Smith. He stressed that "The Lukashenka regime has blatantly and repeatedly violated basic freedoms of speech, expression, assembly, association and religion. The independent media, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and democratic opposition have all faced harassment."