[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 896 Introduced in House (IH)]
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114th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 896
Recognizing the significance of the United States relationship with the
Republic of Moldova and encouraging United States support for anti-
corruption efforts and strengthening democratic institutions.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 27, 2016
Mr. Weber of Texas (for himself and Mr. Franks of Arizona) submitted
the following resolution; which was 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
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the significance of the United States relationship with the
Republic of Moldova and encouraging United States support for anti-
corruption efforts and strengthening democratic institutions.
Whereas the United States has enjoyed a bilateral relationship with the Republic
of Moldova since the Republic of Moldova's independence in 1991;
Whereas Moldova has been a valued and reliable partner in promoting global
security by participating in United Nations peacekeeping missions in
Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire, Sudan, and Georgia;
Whereas since Moldova's independence, the United States has provided financial
assistance to support the people of Moldova's efforts to build a
prosperous European democracy;
Whereas over the past two and a half decades, the Department of State, United
States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Millennium
Challenge Corporation (MCC) have furnished over $1,400,000,000 in
assistance to Moldova, including $262,000,000 for a 5-year MCC compact
for economic development and investment projects in irrigation
infrastructure, high-value agricultural production, and road
rehabilitation;
Whereas the United States Government supports the democratic aspirations of the
people of the Republic of Moldova;
Whereas on the occasion of Moldova's Independence Day on August 27, Secretary of
State John Kerry, on behalf of the President and the people of the
United States, said on August 25, 2016, that the United States stands
``squarely behind'' Moldovan democratic reform as well as Moldova's
``efforts to strengthen the rule of law and fight corruption'', its
``desire to ensure greater prosperity and security for every citizen,''
and that ``today and in the years to come, we will continue to support
the best interests and aspirations of the Moldovan people.'';
Whereas a resurgent and aggressive Russia is pursuing political and economic
warfare in the region, seeking to weaken the continent's Eastern front
by sowing discord and dissent whenever the opportunity presents itself;
Whereas due in part to its strategic location, Moldova has developed into a
legitimate player in the region, becoming increasingly significant as
Russia continues to violate borders and meddle in the internal affairs
of its neighbors;
Whereas the theft of nearly $1,000,000,000 from 3 major banks in Moldova in
2014, much of which consisted of International Monetary Fund (IMF)
loans, has exposed corruption at the highest levels of the Government of
Moldova;
Whereas as a result of this banking scandal and the widely acknowledged
kleptocracy of a number of political leaders, in recent months Moldova
has witnessed anti-government protests composed of hundreds of thousands
of people demanding snap elections and the government's resignation;
Whereas it has been alleged by credible sources, including former senior
Moldovan Government officials cooperating with the United States
Government, and other whistleblowers with personal knowledge of the bank
heist and organized criminal activity, that members of the current
ruling party, including Vice-Chairman of the Moldovan Democratic Party
and feared oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc, participated in the laundering
of these funds into Russian banks and off-shore shell companies;
Whereas it is also believed that funds from Russia, including the infamous
Magnitsky Affair, from Libya, and from Iraq, were laundered through
Moldova as part of criminal schemes orchestrated by Plahotniuc and his
accomplices;
Whereas Plahotniuc, who despite holding no elected office is often described as
Moldova's ``Puppeteer'', has deep ties to Moscow including Russian
officials that are strong supporters of the Moldovan breakaway region of
Transnistria;
Whereas it is understood that United States law enforcement agencies have
initiated investigations into the missing $1,000,000,000 from the
National Bank of Moldova reserves as well as the possible fraudulent use
of the United States banking system, with involvement by United States
citizens, to launder money; and
Whereas now, more than ever, the United States must show support for the rule of
law, economic freedoms, transparency and anti-corruption initiatives in
Moldova: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) calls on the United States Government and the European
Union to ensure that free and fair presidential elections are
held in Moldova on October 30, 2016;
(2) encourages the President and the Department of State to
restrict assistance designated for Moldova to only justice
sector reform, anti-corruption efforts, and strengthening
democratic institutions as long as corruption within the
government ranks persist;
(3) urges the Executive Branch agencies that have initiated
investigations to pursue all available avenues to determine if
the United States banking system, with involvement by United
States citizens was used to launder money as part of the
Moldovan banking scandal, if United States taxpayer dollars in
the form of IMF loans were directed to sanctioned entities; and
what if any members of the Government of Moldova, recipients of
United States foreign aid, participated in, or benefitted from,
the 2014 bank heist, including Vladimir Plahotniuc;
(4) calls on those Executive Branch agencies to report the
results of those investigations to the United States Congress
upon completion;
(5) requests that, if as a result of said investigations,
individuals or entities, including Vladimir Plahotniuc, Andrian
Candu, the speaker of the Moldovan Parliament, Mihai
Poalelungi, the chairman of the Moldovan Supreme Court of
Justice; Eduard Harunjen, the acting Moldovan attorney general,
Viorel Chetraru, the general director of Moldova's National
Anti-Corruption Center, Viorel Morari, the chief of Moldova's
Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's office, Vladimir Cebotari,
Moldova's Minister of Justice, Alexandru Jizdan, Moldova's
Minister of Internal Affairs, Serghei Iaralov, Ion Plesca, the
President of Chisinau's Court of Appeal, and Dorin Damir, the
President of the Fighting and Entertainment Association of
Moldova, are found to have participated in the laundering of
funds from entities or governments sanctioned by the United
States, that the United States consider imposing sanctions on
those individuals and entities to the extent that United States
law allows, including the ban of travel to the United States,
economic sanctions, and the freezing of assets; and
(6) establish through legislation, or via the authority
given under Presidential Proclamation 7750, a list similar to
the one created by the Magnitsky Act for Vladimir Plahotniuc
and other government officials if they are found to have been
involved in the abovementioned crimes.
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