New Belarus Act Mandates Sanctions, Funds Democratic Opposition, and Targets Russian War Complicity

This new legislation, officially called the Belarus Democracy, Human Rights, and Sovereignty Act of 2025, isn’t about changing much here at home, but it significantly updates U.S. foreign policy regarding Belarus. At its core, the bill formalizes the U.S. government’s stance that the regime led by Alyaksandr Lukashenka is illegitimate and details exactly how the U.S. will ramp up pressure while supporting democratic forces.

Putting the Squeeze on Minsk: What the Sanctions Do

If you’re a Belarusian official or entity—or anyone helping them—this bill tightens the screws. Section 6 mandates that existing sanctions remain in place, but it also adds new, very specific triggers. Sanctions must now apply to foreign persons who knowingly engage in or facilitate the abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children to Belarus, or who knowingly support Russia’s use of Belarusian territory to further its invasion of Ukraine. This means that anyone involved in moving those children or supplying Russia through Belarus can have their U.S. assets blocked and transactions prohibited. It also targets officials who interfere in Belarus’s internal affairs on behalf of Russia or work to advance the so-called “Union State” between the two countries (Sec. 6).

Funding the Fight for Freedom

For Belarusian pro-democracy activists, journalists, and civil society groups, this bill is a major win. Section 4 expands the scope of U.S. assistance, allowing funding to go directly to opposition groups like the United Transitional Cabinet and the Coordination Council. The money isn't just for political organizing; it’s earmarked for practical things like independent media and internet freedom efforts to combat censorship, supporting political refugees in neighboring countries, and even funding cultural and language education to preserve Belarusian national identity against Russian influence. The goal is to fund democracy efforts at least at the previous year's level for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, ensuring sustained support for those working under intense pressure.

The Russia Connection: Forcing Accountability

A massive part of this bill is dedicated to Belarus’s complicity in Russia’s war against Ukraine. Section 8 creates a new, mandatory reporting requirement for the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). Within 90 days of the bill becoming law, the DNI must deliver a detailed report to Congress covering several critical areas. This includes assessing the Russian military presence and any nuclear forces in Belarus, detailing how the Lukashenka government is still helping the Wagner Group, and identifying the specific Belarusian officials responsible for illegally transferring Ukrainian children from occupied territories. The report must also analyze the extent to which Belarus is helping Russia evade international sanctions and export controls, including the estimated dollar value of dual-use goods involved.

The Waiver Clause: A Small Caveat

While the bill is strong on sanctions, it does include a standard, if occasionally concerning, element: the Presidential waiver. Section 6 allows the President to waive sanctions for up to 180 days at a time. To do this, the President must simply certify to Congress that the waiver is necessary for U.S. national security interests. While this power is meant for flexibility in complex diplomatic situations, it means that even the strongest mandatory sanctions could be temporarily lifted based on a subjective standard of “national security,” which is something to keep an eye on if the political landscape shifts.