[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 525 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 525

 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to 
the trial and sentencing of Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky and the seizing of 
  assets and state-directed takeover of the Yukos Oil Company by the 
                 Government of the Russian Federation.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 28, 2005

    Mr. Wicker (for himself and Mr. Lantos) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International 
                               Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to 
the trial and sentencing of Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky and the seizing of 
  assets and state-directed takeover of the Yukos Oil Company by the 
                 Government of the Russian Federation.

Whereas the Russian Federation is an invited Member of Group of Eight (G-8) 
        nations and presumes to be a member of the family of democratic nations;
Whereas the United States supports the development of democracy, civil society, 
        the rule of law, and free markets in Russia and in other independent 
        states of the former Soviet Union;
Whereas the rule of law, the impartial application of the law, and equal justice 
        for all in the courts of law are fundamental principles in all 
        democratic societies;
Whereas investment, both foreign and domestic, in the Russian economy is vital 
        for growth and raising the standard of living of the citizens of Russia;
Whereas property rights are a bulwark of civil society against encroachment by 
        the state and a fundamental building block of democracy;
Whereas the trial and sentencing of Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev, 
        former top officials of the Yukos Oil Company, raises questions about 
        selective and discriminatory application of the law in Russia;
Whereas the actions of the Government of the Russian Federation against the 
        Yukos Oil Company, including the taking of its principal asset, 
        Yuganskneftegaz, have caused United States investors in the Yukos and 
        Menatap companies to lose vast amounts in investments and shareholder 
        value; and
Whereas such activities are contrary to the rules and practices of a market 
        economy and undermine Russia's eventual membership in the World Trade 
        Organization: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) law enforcement and judicial authorities of the Russian 
        Federation failed to provide Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky and Platon 
        Lebedev the full measure of their rights under the Russian 
        Constitution to defend themselves against the alleged crimes;
            (2) Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev were not 
        accorded a fair and transparent trial before a truly 
        independent and impartial judiciary; and
            (3) Russian authorities should act to prove that--
                    (A) the cases against Mikhail Khodorkovsky and 
                Platon Lebedev are not politically motivated;
                    (B) the legal system is not simply an instrument of 
                the Kremlin;
                    (C) the state judicial system is truly independent; 
                and
                    (D) the state is not engaged in a campaign to 
                selectively reclaim or renationalize private 
                enterprises.
                                 <all>