[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 86 (Friday, June 30, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1172]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CALLING FOR THE RELEASE OF AMERICAN CITIZEN EDMOND POPE OF GRANTS PASS

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                            HON. GREG WALDEN

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 29, 2000

  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to 
a shameful violation of international government of Russia. For three 
months, an American citizen named Edmond Pope of Grants Pass, Oregon, 
has been unjustly incarcerated in Russia for the crime of espionage. He 
has been denied communication with his wife of 30 years and with his 
parents, who are in ill health. He has been denied legal 
representation, access to sufficient food and medical treatment and 
virtually every other right we commonly associate with the justice 
systems of civilized nations. Indeed, Ed's imprisonment is reminiscent 
of what used to pass for justice under Soviet communism, when men and 
women were dragged from their beds in the dark of night, never to be 
seen again.
  Mr. Speaker, Ed Pope is no spy, and he should be returned to his 
family immediately. We must send a strong message to the government of 
Russia that now is not the time to return to a system of justice in 
which human rights are disregarded so indiscriminately.
  I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join our colleague 
John Peterson and me in urging the Russian government to send Mr. Pope 
home.

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