[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 20 (Monday, February 28, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S1792]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    SUSPENSION OF RUSSIA FROM THE G8

  Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I rise today, along with my good friend 
Senator McCain, to speak about a resolution that is of great importance 
to the cause of democracy which we have devoted America to advance at 
home and around the world. In November 2003 Senator McCain and I were 
moved by Russia's failure to adhere to democratic principles to submit 
a resolution to hold Russia accountable for the commitments Moscow made 
when first invited to participate in what became known as the G8. Since 
then, the situation in Russia has deteriorated. I am particularly 
pleased that Senators Bayh, Burns, Chambliss, Smith, and Durbin have 
joined as original co-sponsors of this resolution indicating the 
increasing Senatorial concern over the accelerating erosion of 
democratic and economic freedom in Russia. As President Bush returns 
from his meeting with President Putin at the summit in Bratislava, we 
call once again on the President of the United States and the Secretary 
of State to work with our partners in the G7 to condition Russia's 
continued participation in the G8 on Russia's compliance with basic 
standards of democracy and rule of law.
  We have a real stake in Russia's adherence to democratic norms 
because our commitment to Russia's transition toward democracy is 
critical to secure a peaceful future with Russia. The G7 nations are 
highly industrialized countries bound together by fundamental 
principles of democracy, rule of law, a free market system, and respect 
for human rights.
  The actions of President Putin over the past few years have raised 
serious concerns about Russia's commitment to these principles. There 
is a long list of well-documented antidemocratic developments in 
Russia. The Putin administration has limited freedom of expression in 
Russia by seizing independent media organizations and suppressing the 
activities of independent journalists, religious organizations, and 
nongovernmental organizations that are all integral components of a 
healthy civil society. The Russian government's dismantling of Yukos 
and the arrest of its founder Mikhail Khodorkovsky 16 months ago raised 
serious doubts about Russia's commitment to free market principles and 
rule of law as well as respect for property and shareholder rights. The 
Federal Security Services, FSB, play a strong role in Russia's power 
structures in a manner reminiscent of the KGB in the old regime. 
President Putin's support for the first fraudulent results in the 
Ukrainian presidential elections last year exhibited disregard for 
basic democratic principles. Fortunately, a democratic outcome 
prevailed in a new vote and Yushchenko's victory--a very positive 
development for Ukraine's and Russia's democrats.
  We were all moved by the horrific attack on the schoolchildren and 
families of Beslan school last September. There can be no justification 
for such brutal acts and we condemn them with every fiber of our soul. 
Our hearts and sympathy go out to the families of these victims as they 
continue to cope with the loss of their loved ones. The United States 
condemns terrorism in all forms. But the tragedy of the Beslan school 
should not be used by President Putin to retreat from democratic 
reforms. In the wake of the Beslan crisis, President Putin abolished 
the popular election of regional governors in favor of presidential 
appointees. These changes to the Russian political system enhance the 
power of the executive branch, while reducing the checks and balances 
that make democracies work. As former Secretary of State Colin Powell 
said, ``We understand the need to fight against terrorism . . . but in 
an attempt to go after terrorists I think one has to strike a proper 
balance to make sure that you don't move in a direction that takes you 
away from the democratic reforms or the democratic process.''
  Allowing Russia to continue its involvement in the G8 and to host the 
2006 G8 Summit while continuing to undermine democracy makes mockery of 
the very principles that bind the
G8 countries together. This resolution is not anti-Russian; it is a 
strong show of support for Russia's democrats who have long urged the 
United States to not turn a blind eye to undemocratic developments in 
Russia. Sharing a deeply personal moment from his time in Soviet Gulag, 
Natan Sharansky recently told a group of Senators how deeply supported 
he felt when President Reagan gave his famous ``evil empire'' speech 
that honestly addressed the oppression of the Soviet system. Since then 
Russia has come a long way, but we must speak openly in the face of the 
backsliding we are seeing.
  As Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recently said, ``The real 
deepening of our relations can only take place on the basis of common 
values.'' To do otherwise would be to shirk our responsibilities as a 
leader of the democratic world. And as President Bush said so 
eloquently in his inaugural and State of the Union addresses, America's 
security is advanced by the advancement of freedom. This resolution 
puts those sentiments into concrete action and I urge my fellow 
Senators to support it.

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