[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 20 (Monday, May 22, 2006)]
[Pages 927-929]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 8015--Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants 
of Persons Responsible for Policies or Actions That Threaten the 
Transition to Democracy in Belarus

 May 12, 2006

 By the President of the United States

 of America

 A Proclamation

    In light of the importance to the United States of fostering 
democratic institutions in Belarus in order to help the Belarusian 
people achieve their aspirations for democracy and to help complete the 
transformation to a Europe whole, free, and at peace and given the 
suppression of human rights and democracy in Belarus, the fraud 
perpetrated during the recent Belarusian presidential campaign and 
election, the detention of peaceful protesters in Belarus, the 
persistent acts of corruption by Belarusian government officials in the 
performance of public functions, and the continued failure of Alyaksandr 
Lukashenka,

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Belarusian government officials, and others to support the rule of law, 
human rights commitments, and other principles of high priority to the 
United States, I have determined that it is in the interest of the 
United States to take all available measures to restrict the 
international travel and to suspend the entry into the United States, as 
immigrants or nonimmigrants, of members of the government of Alyaksandr 
Lukashenka and others detailed below who formulate, implement, 
participate in, or benefit from policies or actions, including electoral 
fraud, human rights abuses, and corruption, that undermine or injure 
democratic institutions or impede the transition to democracy in 
Belarus.
     Now, Therefore, I, George W. Bush, President of the United States 
of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws 
of the United States, including section 212(f) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act of 1952, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f), and section 301 of title 3, 
United States Code, hereby find that the unrestricted immigrant and 
nonimmigrant entry into the United States of persons described in 
section 1 of this proclamation would, except as provided for in sections 
2 and 3 of this proclamation, be detrimental to the interests of the 
United States.
    I therefore hereby proclaim that:
    Section 1. The entry into the United States, as immigrants or 
nonimmigrants, of the following persons is hereby suspended:

    (a) Members of the government of Alyaksandr Lukashenka and other 
persons who formulate, implement, participate in, or benefit from 
policies or actions, including electoral fraud, human rights abuses, or 
corruption, that undermine or injure democratic institutions or impede 
the transition to democracy in Belarus;

    (b) Persons who through their business dealings with Belarusian 
government officials derive significant financial benefit from policies 
or actions, including electoral fraud, human rights abuses, or 
corruption, that un-
dermine or injure democratic institutions or impede the transition to 
democracy in Belarus; and
    (c) The spouses of persons described in paragraphs (a) and (b) 
above.
    Sec. 2. Section 1 of this proclamation shall not apply with respect 
to any person otherwise covered by section 1 where entry of such person 
would not be contrary to the interest of the United States.
    Sec. 3. Persons covered by sections 1 and 2 of this proclamation 
shall be identified by the Secretary of State or the Secretary's 
designee, in his or her sole discretion, pursuant to such procedures as 
the Secretary may establish under section 5 of this proclamation.
    Sec. 4. Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to derogate 
from United States Government obligations under applicable international 
agreements.
    Sec. 5. The Secretary of State shall have responsibility for 
implementing this proclamation pursuant to such procedures as the 
Secretary may establish.
    Sec. 6. This proclamation is effective immediately and shall remain 
in effect until such time as the Secretary of State determines that it 
is no longer necessary and should be terminated, either in whole or in 
part. Any such termination by the Secretary of State shall be published 
in the Federal Register.
     In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of 
May, in the year of our Lord two thousand six, and of the Independence 
of the United States of America the two hundred and thirtieth.
                                                George W. Bush

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 12:10 p.m., May 15, 
2006]

Note: This proclamation was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on May 15, and it was published in the Federal Register on May 
16.

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