[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 571 Reported in Senate (RS)]

<DOC>
                                                       Calendar No. 547
115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 571

  Condemning the ongoing illegal occupation of Crimea by the Russian 
                              Federation.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 10, 2018

  Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Portman, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Toomey, Mr. 
 Coons, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Markey, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Brown, Mr. 
 Casey, and Mr. Booker) submitted the following resolution; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

                             July 30, 2018

   Reported by Mr. Corker, with an amendment and an amendment to the 
                                preamble
[Strike out all after the resolving clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]
      [Strike the preamble and insert the part printed in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Condemning the ongoing illegal occupation of Crimea by the Russian 
                              Federation.

Whereas, in February 2014, unidentified Russian armed forces entered Ukrainian 
        territory and took control of key military and government infrastructure 
        in the Crimean peninsula of Ukraine;
Whereas, in March 2014, the parliament of the Russian Federation gave rubber-
        stamp approval to President Vladimir Putin's request to use military 
        force against Ukrainian territory ostensibly because of the ``threat of 
        violence from ultranationalists'';
Whereas, on March 27, 2014, the United Nations General Assembly adopted 
        Resolution 68/262 calling on states and international organizations not 
        to recognize any change in Crimea's status and affirmed the commitment 
        of the United Nations to recognize Crimea as part of Ukraine;
Whereas the Russian Federation's illegal invasion and annexation of Crimea has 
        been widely seen as an effort to stifle the spread of pro-democracy 
        developments across Ukraine in 2014 in the wake of the Euromaidan 
        protests;
Whereas the Russian Federation is a signatory to the 1994 Budapest Memorandum 
        and thus committed to respect the independence, sovereignty, and borders 
        of Ukraine and to refrain from threats, coercive economic actions, or 
        the use of force against Ukraine's territorial integrity and political 
        independence;
Whereas the Russian Federation committed in the 1975 Final Act of the Conference 
        for Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Final Act) to respect 
        the sovereign equality and territorial integrity of other participating 
        States;
Whereas the Russian Federation's obligations under the Charter of the United 
        Nations prohibit the threat or use of force against the territorial 
        integrity and political independence of other states;
Whereas the Russian Federation's ongoing illegal occupation of Crimea in Ukraine 
        have been widely condemned by the international community as illegal 
        acts;
Whereas the United States and European Union have imposed sanctions on 
        individuals and entities who have enabled the illegal invasion, 
        annexation, and occupation of Crimea;
Whereas the Department of State has stated in its Country Reports on Human 
        Rights Practices that security services and local authorities in Crimea 
        installed by the Government of the Russian Federation have ``worked to 
        consolidate control over Crimea and continued to restrict human rights 
        by imposing repressive Federal laws of the Russian Federation on the 
        Ukrainian territory of Crimea'' and that ``the most significant human 
        rights problems in Crimea [were] related directly to the Russian 
        occupation'';
Whereas the Department of State has described ``an extensive campaign of 
        intimidation to suppress dissent and opposition to the occupation'' that 
        has been carried out by Russian security services inside Crimea, 
        including the use of torture and physical abuse, kidnapping, 
        disappearances, and deportations, and reporting from independent human 
        rights groups inside and outside Crimea has documented such alleged 
        human rights violations by Russian security services and paramilitary 
        groups;
Whereas the campaign of intimidation in Crimea has resulted in the prosecution 
        and imprisonment of individuals who oppose or criticize the occupation 
        or support Ukrainian sovereignty as well as the transfer of some 
        individuals from Crimea to Russian Federation territory from prosecution 
        and imprisonment;
Whereas the Department of State has noted that illegal occupying authorities in 
        Crimea have also restricted the fundamental human rights of particular 
        groups, including ethnic Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars, ``particularly 
        regarding expressions of nationality and ethnicity, and subjected them 
        to systematic discrimination'';
Whereas human rights groups have cited that such discrimination has been carried 
        out in myriad ways, including through the outlawing in 2016 of the 
        elected representative body (mejilis) of the Crimean Tatar people, the 
        closing of Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian-language schools, and forced 
        conscription;
Whereas the Department of State and other international human rights groups have 
        noted further continuing human rights concerns in Crimea, including the 
        suppression of independent media and civil society through harassment 
        and harsh administrative measures, politicized and unfair judicial 
        processes, and poor prison conditions;
Whereas the Government of the Russian Federation has worked to extend Russian 
        citizenship to individuals inside Crimea and deprived access to public 
        services of those who refuse such citizenship;
Whereas civil society groups have alleged that the Government of the Russian 
        Federation has encouraged Russian citizens to relocate to the Crimean 
        peninsula and has supported the physical destruction of historical sites 
        in Crimea, ostensibly to influence the demographics and political 
        character of the region in favor of the Kremlin; and
Whereas the Government of the Russian Federation has supported the development 
        of infrastructure and institutional ties between Crimea and the Russian 
        Federation, including the opening of a road and rail bridge over the 
        Kerch Strait on May 15, 2018: Now, therefore, be it
Whereas, in February 2014, unidentified Russian armed forces entered Ukrainian 
        territory and took control of key military and government infrastructure 
        in the Crimean peninsula of Ukraine;
Whereas, in March 2014, the parliament of the Russian Federation gave rubber-
        stamp approval to President Vladimir Putin's request to use military 
        force against Ukrainian territory ostensibly because of the ``threat of 
        violence from ultranationalists'';
Whereas, on March 27, 2014, the United Nations General Assembly adopted 
        Resolution 68/262 calling on states and international organizations not 
        to recognize any change in Crimea's status and affirmed the commitment 
        of the United Nations to recognize Crimea as part of Ukraine;
Whereas the Russian Federation's illegal invasion and annexation of Crimea has 
        been widely seen as an effort to stifle pro-democracy developments 
        across Ukraine in 2014 in the wake of the Euromaidan protests;
Whereas the Russian Federation is a signatory to the 1994 Budapest Memorandum 
        and thus committed to respect the independence, sovereignty, and borders 
        of Ukraine and to refrain from threats, coercive economic actions, or 
        the use of force against Ukraine's territorial integrity and political 
        independence;
Whereas the Russian Federation committed in the 1975 Final Act of the Conference 
        for Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Final Act) to respect 
        the sovereign equality and territorial integrity of other participating 
        States;
Whereas the Russian Federation's obligations under the Charter of the United 
        Nations prohibit the threat or use of force against the territorial 
        integrity and political independence of other states;
Whereas the Russian Federation's ongoing occupation of Crimea in Ukraine has 
        been widely condemned by the international community as an illegal act;
Whereas the United States and European Union have imposed sanctions on 
        individuals and entities who have enabled the illegal invasion, 
        annexation, and occupation of Crimea;
Whereas the Department of State has stated in its Country Reports on Human 
        Rights Practices that security services and local authorities in Crimea 
        installed by the Government of the Russian Federation have ``worked to 
        consolidate control over Crimea and continued to restrict human rights 
        by imposing repressive federal laws of the Russian Federation on the 
        Ukrainian territory of Crimea'' and that ``the most significant human 
        rights problems in Crimea [were] related directly to the Russian 
        occupation'';
Whereas the Department of State has described ``an extensive campaign of 
        intimidation to suppress dissent and opposition to the occupation'' that 
        has been carried out by Russian security services inside Crimea, 
        including the use of torture and physical abuse, kidnapping, 
        disappearances, and deportations, and reporting from independent human 
        rights groups inside and outside Crimea has documented such alleged 
        human rights violations by Russian security services and paramilitary 
        groups;
Whereas the campaign of intimidation in Crimea has resulted in the prosecution 
        and imprisonment of individuals who oppose or criticize the occupation 
        or support Ukrainian sovereignty as well as the transfer of some 
        individuals from Crimea to Russian Federation territory for prosecution 
        and imprisonment;
Whereas the Department of State has noted that illegal occupying authorities in 
        Crimea have also restricted the fundamental human rights of particular 
        groups, including ethnic Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars, ``particularly 
        regarding expressions of nationality and ethnicity, and [have] subjected 
        them to systematic discrimination,'' and human rights groups have 
        reported that such discrimination has been carried out in myriad ways, 
        including through the outlawing in 2016 of the elected representative 
        body (mejilis) of the Crimean Tatar people, the closing of Crimean Tatar 
        and Ukrainian-language schools, and forced conscription;
Whereas the Department of State and other international human rights groups have 
        noted further continuing human rights concerns in Crimea, including the 
        suppression of independent media and civil society through harassment 
        and harsh administrative measures, politicized and unfair judicial 
        processes, and poor prison conditions;
Whereas the Government of the Russian Federation has worked to extend Russian 
        citizenship to individuals inside Crimea and deprived access to public 
        services of those who refuse such citizenship;
Whereas civil society groups have alleged that the Government of the Russian 
        Federation has encouraged Russian citizens to relocate to the Crimean 
        peninsula and has supported the physical destruction of historical sites 
        in Crimea, ostensibly to influence the demographics and political 
        character of the region in favor of the Government of the Russian 
        Federation; and
Whereas the Government of the Russian Federation has supported the development 
        of infrastructure and institutional ties between Crimea and the Russian 
        Federation, including the opening of a road and rail bridge over the 
        Kerch Strait on May 15, 2018: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
        <DELETED>    (1) reiterates that Crimea is part of the 
        sovereign territory of Ukraine;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) stresses that United States policy should 
        remain that Crimea is part of Ukraine and should reject 
        attempts to change the status, demographics, or political 
        nature of Crimea;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) reaffirms respect for the values of democracy, 
        human rights, and rule of law that all individuals in Crimea 
        deserve, including non-Russian ethnic groups and religious 
        minorities;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) condemns all human rights violations against 
        individuals in Crimea, and underscores the culpability of the 
        Russian Federation for such violations while this territory is 
        under illegal Russian occupation;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) calls on the Government of the Russian 
        Federation to immediately respect the political and human 
        rights of individuals in Crimea, including those detained in 
        Crimea or who have been transferred from Crimea to the 
        territory of Russia, and to cease efforts to restrict dissent 
        or change the demographic or political nature of the 
        peninsula;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) urges the United States Government, in 
        coordination with the European Union, NATO, and members of the 
        international community, to prioritize efforts to prevent the 
        further consolidation of illegal occupying powers in Crimea, 
        reaffirm unified opposition to the actions of the Russian 
        Federation in Crimea, and secure the human rights of 
        individuals there;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) welcomes the sanctions that have been imposed 
        and maintained to date by the United States and European Union 
        against individuals engaged in furthering the illegal 
        occupation of Crimea by the Russian Federation;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (8) calls on the United States Government to 
        continue to use relevant sanctions authorities codified in the 
        Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act of 2017 
        (Public Law 115-144), as well as under the Global Magnitsky 
        Human Rights Accountability Act (subtitle F of title XII of 
        Public Law 114-328; 22 U.S.C. 2656 note), to address and deter 
        those engaged in furthering the illegal occupation of Crimea 
        and human rights abuses and corruption committed in Crimea or 
        against individuals from Crimea;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (9) welcomes further efforts by the United States 
        Government to encourage the European Union to impose additional 
        Crimea-related sanctions; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (10) calls upon the United States Government to 
        declare it the foreign policy of the United States to never 
        recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea by the Russian 
        Federation, similar to the 1940 Welles Declaration in which the 
        United States refused to recognized the Soviet annexation of 
        the Baltic States.</DELETED>
That the Senate--
            (1) reiterates that Crimea is part of the sovereign 
        territory of Ukraine;
            (2) stresses that United States policy should remain that 
        Crimea is part of Ukraine and should be to reject attempts to 
        change the status, demographics, or political nature of Crimea;
            (3) reaffirms its unwavering support for democracy, human 
        rights, and the rule of law for all individuals in Crimea, 
        including non-Russian ethnic groups and religious minorities;
            (4) condemns all human rights violations against 
        individuals in Crimea, and underscores the culpability of the 
        Russian Federation for such violations while this territory is 
        under illegal Russian occupation;
            (5) calls on the Government of the Russian Federation to 
        immediately respect the political and human rights of 
        individuals in Crimea, including those detained in Crimea or 
        who have been transferred from Crimea to the territory of 
        Russia, and to cease efforts to restrict dissent or change the 
        demographic or political nature of the peninsula;
            (6) urges the United States Government, in coordination 
        with the European Union, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, 
        and members of the international community, to prioritize 
        efforts to prevent the further consolidation of illegal 
        occupying powers in Crimea, reaffirm unified opposition to the 
        actions of the Russian Federation in Crimea, and secure the 
        human rights of individuals there;
            (7) welcomes the sanctions that have been imposed and 
        maintained to date by the United States and European Union 
        against individuals engaged in furthering the illegal 
        occupation of Crimea by the Russian Federation;
            (8) calls on the United States Government to continue to 
        use relevant sanctions authorities, including those codified in 
        the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act of 
        2017 (Public Law 115-144) and the Global Magnitsky Human Rights 
        Accountability Act (subtitle F of title XII of Public Law 114-
        328; 22 U.S.C. 2656 note), to address and deter those engaged 
        in furthering the illegal occupation of Crimea and human rights 
        abuses and corruption committed in Crimea or against 
        individuals from Crimea;
            (9) welcomes further efforts by the United States 
        Government to encourage the European Union to impose additional 
        Crimea-related sanctions; and
            (10) calls upon the United States Government to declare it 
        the foreign policy of the United States to never recognize the 
        illegal annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, similar 
        to the 1940 Welles Declaration in which the United States 
        refused to recognize the Soviet annexation of the Baltic 
        States.




                                                       Calendar No. 547

115th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                              S. RES. 571

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

  Condemning the ongoing illegal occupation of Crimea by the Russian 
                              Federation.

_______________________________________________________________________

                             July 30, 2018

      Reported with an amendment and an amendment to the preamble