[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 162 (Friday, December 16, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13942-S13943]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 URGING THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION TO WITHDRAW THE FIRST DRAFT OF PROPOSED 
                              LEGISLATION

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 339, which was 
submitted earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 339) urging the Government of the 
     Russian Federation to withdraw the first draft of the 
     proposed legislation as passed in its first reading in the 
     State Duma that would have the effect of severely restricting 
     the establishment, operations, and activities of domestic, 
     international, and foreign nongovernmental organizations in 
     the Russian Federation, or to modify the proposed legislation 
     to entirely remove these restrictions.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider 
be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 339) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 339

       Whereas Russian Federation President Putin has stated that 
     ``modern Russia's greatest achievement is the democratic 
     process (and) the achievements of our civil society'';
       Whereas the unobstructed establishment and free and 
     autonomous operations and activities of nongovernmental 
     organizations and a robust civil society free from excessive 
     government control are central and indispensable elements of 
     a democratic society;
       Whereas the free and autonomous operations of 
     nongovernmental organizations in any society necessarily 
     encompass activities, including political activities, that 
     may be contrary to government policies;
       Whereas domestic, international, and foreign 
     nongovernmental organizations are crucial in assisting the 
     Russian Federation and the Russian people in tackling the 
     many challenges they face, including in such areas as 
     education, infectious diseases, and the establishment of a 
     flourishing democracy;
       Whereas the Government of the Russian Federation has 
     proposed legislation that would have the effect of severely 
     restricting the establishment, operations, and activities of 
     domestic, international, and foreign nongovernmental 
     organizations in the Russian Federation, including erecting 
     unprecedented barriers to foreign assistance;
       Whereas the State Duma of the Russian Federation is 
     considering the first draft of such legislation;
       Whereas the restrictions in the first draft of this 
     legislation would impose disabling restraints on the 
     establishment, operations, and activities of nongovernmental 
     organizations and on civil society throughout the Russian 
     Federation, regardless of the stated intent of the Government 
     of the Russian Federation;
       Whereas the stated concerns of the Government of the 
     Russian Federation regarding the use of nongovernmental 
     organizations by foreign interests and intelligence agencies 
     to undermine the Government of the Russian Federation and the 
     security of the Russian Federation as a whole can be fully 
     addressed without imposing disabling restraints on 
     nongovernmental organizations and on civil society;
       Whereas there is active debate underway in the Russian 
     Federation over concerns regarding such restrictions on 
     nongovernmental organizations;
       Whereas the State Duma and the Federation Council of the 
     Federal Assembly play a central role in the system of checks 
     and balances that are prerequisites for a democracy;

[[Page S13943]]

       Whereas the first draft of the proposed legislation has 
     already passed its first reading in the State Duma;
       Whereas President Putin has indicated his desire for 
     changes in the first draft that would ``correspond more 
     closely to the principles according to which civil society 
     functions''; and
       Whereas Russia's destiny and the interests of her people 
     lie in her assumption of her rightful place as a full and 
     equal member of the international community of democracies: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That the Senate--
       (1) urges the Government of the Russian Federation to 
     withdraw the first draft of the proposed legislation that 
     would have the effect of severely restricting the 
     establishment, operations, and activities of domestic, 
     international, and foreign nongovernmental organizations in 
     the Russian Federation, or to modify the proposed legislation 
     to entirely remove these restrictions; and
       (2) in the event that the first draft of the proposed 
     legislation is not withdrawn, urges the State Duma and the 
     Federation Council of the Federal Assembly to modify the 
     legislation to ensure the unobstructed establishment and free 
     and autonomous operations and activities of such 
     nongovernmental organizations in accordance with the 
     practices universally adopted by democracies, including the 
     provisions regarding foreign assistance.

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