[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 32 (Tuesday, March 14, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H888-H890]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION SHOULD 
    FULLY PROTECT THE FREEDOMS OF ALL RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES WITHOUT 
                              DISTINCTION

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 190) expressing the 
sense of the Congress that the Russian Federation should fully protect 
the freedoms of all religious communities without distinction, whether 
registered and unregistered, as stipulated by the Russian Constitution 
and international standards.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 190

       Whereas the Russian Federation is a participating State of 
     the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe 
     (OSCE) and has freely committed to fully respect the rights 
     of individuals, whether alone or in community with others, to 
     profess and practice religion or belief;
       Whereas the Russian Federation specifically committed in 
     the 1989 Vienna Concluding Document to ``take effective 
     measures to prevent and eliminate discrimination against 
     individuals or communities on the grounds of religion or 
     belief'' and to ``grant upon their request to communities of 
     believers, practicing or prepared to practice their faith 
     within the constitutional framework of their States, 
     recognition of the status provided for them in the respective 
     countries'';
       Whereas Article 28 of the Constitution of the Russian 
     Federation declares ``everyone shall be guaranteed the right 
     to freedom of conscience, to freedom of religious worship, 
     including the right to profess, individually or jointly with 
     others, any religion'' and Article 8 of the 1997 Law on 
     Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations provides for 
     registration for religious communities as ``religious 
     organizations,'' if they have at least 10 members and have 
     operated within the Russian Federation with legal status for 
     at least 15 years;
       Whereas registration is critical for religious groups to 
     fully enjoy their religious freedoms, as many rights and 
     privileges afforded to religious communities in the Russian 
     Federation are contingent on obtaining registration;
       Whereas many religious groups refuse to seek registration 
     on theological or other grounds, while other communities have 
     been unjustly denied registration or had their registration 
     improperly terminated by local authorities;
       Whereas many of the unregistered communities in the Russian 
     Federation today were never registered under the Soviet 
     system because they refused to collaborate with that 
     government's anti-religious policies and they are now 
     experiencing renewed discrimination and repression from the 
     authorities;
       Whereas over the past 2 years there have been an estimated 
     ten arson attacks on unregistered Protestant churches, with 
     little or no effective response by law enforcement officials 
     to bring the perpetrators to justice;
       Whereas in some areas of the Russian Federation law 
     enforcement personnel have carried out violent actions 
     against believers from unregistered communities peacefully 
     practicing their faith; and
       Whereas the United States has sought to protect the 
     fundamental and inalienable human right to seek, know, and 
     serve God according to the dictates of one's own conscience, 
     in accordance with the international agreements committing 
     nations to respect individual freedom of thought, conscience, 
     and belief: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that the 
     United States should--
       (1) urge the Russian Federation to ensure full protection 
     of freedoms for all religious communities without 
     distinction, whether registered and unregistered, and end the 
     harassment of unregistered religious groups by the security 
     apparatus and other government agencies;
       (2) urge the Russian Federation to ensure that law 
     enforcement officials vigorously investigate acts of violence 
     against unregistered religious communities, as well as make 
     certain that authorities are not complicit in such attacks;
       (3) continue to raise concerns with the Government of the 
     Russian Federation over violations of religious freedom, 
     including those against unregistered religious communities, 
     especially indigenous denominations not well known in the 
     United States;
       (4) ensure that United States Embassy officials engage 
     local officials throughout the Russian Federation, especially 
     when violations of freedom of religion occur, and undertake 
     outreach activities to educate local officials about the 
     rights of unregistered religious communities;
       (5) urge both the Personal Representative of the OSCE 
     Chair-in-Office on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and 
     Discrimination, also focusing on Intolerance and 
     Discrimination against Christians and Members of Other 
     Religions, and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on 
     Freedom of Religion or Belief to visit the Russian Federation 
     and raise with federal and local officials concerns about the 
     free practice of unregistered religious communities; and
       (6) urge the Council of Europe and its member countries to 
     raise with Russian Federation officials issues relating to 
     freedom of religion, especially in light of the Russian 
     Federation's responsibilities as President of the Council in 
     2006.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  H. Con. Res. 190 expresses the sense of the Congress that the Russian 
Federation should fully protect the right of its people to worship and 
practice their faith as they see fit. This freedom is the right of all 
religious communities without distinct, whether registered or 
unregistered, and that is stipulated by the Russian Constitution and by 
international standards.
  Yet I am sorry to report religious freedom for minority religious 
communities throughout the Russian Federation have been under growing 
pressure as local officials and government authorities continue to 
harass and limit the abilities of these groups to practice their faith 
freely.
  As we learned at a recent Helsinki Commission hearing, instances of 
violence have become alarmingly common. Arson attacks against churches 
in Russia have occurred in several towns and cities with little or no 
police response.
  In its 2005 International Religious Freedom Report, the State 
Department Office on International Religious Freedom notes: ``Some 
Federal agencies and many local authorities continue to restrict the 
rights of various religious minorities. Moreover, contradictions 
between Federal and local laws and varying interpretations of the law 
provide regional officials with opportunities to restrict the 
activities of religious minorities. Many observers attribute 
discriminatory practices at the local level to the greater 
susceptibility of local governments than the Federal Government to 
discriminatory attitudes in lobbying by local majority religious 
groups. The government only occasionally intervenes to prevent or 
reverse discrimination at the local level.''
  Mr. Speaker, the internationally recognized expert on religious 
liberty in Russia, Larry Uzzell, has written: ``Russia has now come to 
use as standard practice methods of religious repression that were 
applied only occasionally in the 1990s. Secular bureaucrats now 
typically refuse to authorize land transfers to Baptist churches and 
also forbid movie theaters or other public halls to sign rental 
contracts with them.'' As a result, as an example: ``In Moscow City 
alone some 10 Baptist congregations have ceased to exist simply because 
they could not find places within which to worship.''
  I would just note parenthetically, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Larry 
for his extraordinary work in bringing this matter to the attention of 
the Congress. Larry is a tireless advocate for oppressed believers 
throughout Russia

[[Page H889]]

and Central Asia. He is facing some serious health issues now, and I 
would like to wish him a very speedy recovery.
  Mr. Speaker, in response to this growing and very negative trend in 
Russia, this resolution urges the Russian Federation to ``ensure full 
protections of freedoms for all religious communities without 
distinction, whether registered or unregistered, and to end the 
harassment of unregistered religious groups by the security apparatus 
and other government agencies, as well as to ensure that law 
enforcement officials rigorously investigate acts of violence against 
unregistered religious communities, and to make certain that 
authorities are not complicit in such attacks.''
  I point out that in March 2004 a district court banned the religious 
activity of Jehovah's Witnesses in Moscow. For 2 years now the 
authorities have used the Moscow decision to harass the Jehovah's 
Witnesses Administration Center in St. Petersburg, with threats to 
``liquidate'' the administrative center which could threaten local 
congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses throughout all of Russia.
  Members of the Russia's Muslim community and respected human rights 
activists have expressed concern regarding what they contend are large-
scale fabrications of terrorism against Russian Muslims. One of 
Russia's Supreme Muftis has stated that random police checks and 
arrests are becoming commonplace throughout Russia for Russian Muslims.
  Let me reiterate that Russia has every right to defend itself against 
terrorism and to investigate and prosecute terrorists. Of course it 
does. Here in the United States we face the problem of combating 
terrorism while safeguarding civil liberties. I would urge the 
government, however, to strive for the proper balance in defending both 
its citizens as well as their civil liberties.
  Mr. Speaker, the religious liberty picture in Russia is not entirely 
dark, and it would be disingenuous to make that assertion.

                              {time}  1530

  There are Nations that have worse records. They can be found on the 
list of ``countries of particular concern'' that is issued by the U.S. 
Department of State in its annual report on religious freedom around 
the world, so-called CPC countries like Vietnam.
  However, Russia is a member of the U.N. Security Council, an OSCE-
participating State, and will soon chair the Council of Europe. In 
addition, this year, it is the chair of the G-8 and the host of the G-8 
Summit in St. Petersburg in July. Considering all of these positions, 
they should be expected to uphold basic, internationally recognized and 
accepted standards to protect peaceful religious practice.
  That is what this resolution is all about.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of our time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume, 
and I rise in strong support of this legislation.
  First of all, I want to commend my good friend from New Jersey for 
introducing yet another important resolution concerning religious 
freedom in Russia. Chris Smith has been a leader on this issue for many 
years, and I want to pay public tribute to his commitment. His tireless 
leadership in support of both religious freedom and all human rights 
are legendary in this body.
  Mr. Speaker, the fall of Soviet communism was a watershed event of 
the 20th century. What emerged was, by no means, a Jeffersonian 
democracy. Only a fool would have expected that outcome, but for the 
first time in over seven decades, the citizens of the former Soviet 
Union truly expressed their views, practiced their religions, opened 
private businesses and traveled outside what we used to call the Iron 
Curtain.
  But Mr. Speaker, I am profoundly troubled that the limited and 
growing democracy which emerged from the dissolution of the Soviet 
Union and the ensuing respect for human rights and religious freedom 
are quickly vanishing. Under the rule of Vladimir Putin and his small 
junta of former KGB officers, the achievements of the past decade are 
being reversed, with very little criticism from the international 
community.
  This is a very sad development for the entire civilized world, for 
the United States, but most particularly for the people of Russia. And 
while we are nowhere near omnipotent in our relations with Russia, we 
must do whatever we can to counteract this very troubling trend.
  As this resolution correctly notes, one of the casualties of rising 
authoritarianism in Russia under Putin has been the increased 
harassment of religious organizations that are not registered with the 
Russian Government, as well as stepped-up violence aimed at their 
membership. While some of these religious organizations refuse to 
register with the Russian State on principle, others have sought to 
register, only to be turned down repeatedly by the Russian Government.
  Mr. Speaker, the Russian constitution commits the government to 
protect the right of Russian citizens to exercise their religious 
beliefs freely. It is most unfortunate that Mr. Putin and his cronies 
have failed to use the power of the Russian State to put an end to the 
mistreatment of unregistered churches and to stop acts of violence 
against average Russian citizens who simply wish to express their 
religious beliefs freely.
  With passage of this resolution submitted by my friend, Mr. Smith, 
Congress will demand that the Russian Federation reverse the troubling 
trend away from freedom and democracy under Vladimir Putin and urges 
our administration and our European friends to ensure that religious 
freedom remains firmly on the radar screen in our dealings with the 
Russians.
  Mr. Speaker, this summer, a Group of Eight industrialized 
democracies, so-called, will meet in St. Petersburg for their annual 
summit. Given the dramatic erosion of religious and political freedom 
in Russia, it is imperative that the original G-7 nations clearly and 
unequivocally inform Russia that its membership in the G-8 will be 
suspended unless Mr. Putin is willing to change the negative direction 
in which he is taking the Russian nation.
  Russia was originally invited to join the G-7 as merely a guest, at a 
time when Russia, under Yeltsin, was moving in a positive direction. 
Now that churches are being closed, political opponents are being 
locked away in Siberia and the media no longer is free, the parliament 
is no longer independent, the courts are an adjunct of the Kremlin, we 
can no longer pretend that Russia belongs in the G-8.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the legislation submitted by Mr. 
Smith. I urge all of my colleagues to do so.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of 
the time to, first of all, thank my good friend and colleague, Mr. 
Lantos, for his eloquent statement and for his leadership for decades 
on the fundamental issue of human rights, particularly as it relates to 
religious freedom. We have been partners, along with Frank Wolf and a 
few other Members of this body for years in pressuring Moscow and what 
was formerly the Warsaw Pact nations to liberalize their policies.
  As Mr. Lantos pointed out so well a moment ago, there is a very 
troubling and dangerous trend as Putin takes Russia in the wrong 
direction, especially as it relates to NGOs, religious freedom and 
religious bodies of all kinds and various denominations, and just basic 
civil liberties are being constricted in that country, Russia needs the 
oxygen of liberty and freedom in order to realize it's vast potential.
  So I want to thank again Mr. Lantos for his wonderful statement and 
leadership.
  I would also like to thank John Finerty from the Commission on 
Security and Cooperation in Europe, who is our Russian expert. John has 
been on the commission since 1981. When I got elected 26 years ago, 
John Finerty was there, a Russian speaker, a Russian expert, who has 
provided valuable insight to both Democrats and Republicans on the 
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. His wisdom, his 
council, his clarity has aided us while we travelled to Russia, when we 
met with lawmakers in bilateral discussions, with members of the Duma 
and

[[Page H890]]

other officials from Russia, and has always provided us the insight 
that we needed, and like I said, that sense of perspective and 
timeliness as well as what our next steps ought to be. John has been to 
Russia and to the Soviet Union at least 27 times over the years.
  I will never forget when he accompanied Frank Wolf and I, when we 
went to Moscow on a very I think historic trip where we visited Perm 
Camp 35 where Nathan Sharansky had spent so many years of his life, 
John was with us on an historic trip/meeting with the Duma. Four days 
of talks--and did we ever need John's incredible knowledge and insight. 
He was amazing! So I want to thank John for his leadership for all of 
these years and helping us with this legislation today.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Walden of Oregon). Is there objection to 
the request of the gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise as a co-sponsor and in support of H. 
Con. Res. 190, which urges the Russian Federation to ``ensure full 
protection of freedoms for all religious communities without 
distinction, whether registered and unregistered, and end the 
harassment of unregistered religious groups by the security apparatus 
and other government agencies,'' as well as to ``ensure that law 
enforcement officials vigorously investigate acts of violence against 
unregistered religious communities, as well as make certain that 
authorities are not complicit in such attacks.''
  As the Ranking House Member on the Helsinki Commission, I have seen 
how religious freedoms for minority religious communities throughout 
the Russian Federation have come under increasing pressure. Throughout 
that vast country, local officials and government authorities continue 
to harass and limit the ability of these groups to practice their faith 
freely. In addition, instances of violence, such as arson attacks, have 
been alarmingly common in recent years. The Helsinki Commission heard 
disturbing testimony to this effect in April of last year.
  The State Department's International Religious Freedom Report for 
2005 reported that some federal agencies and many local authorities 
continued to restrict the rights of various religious minorities, and 
the internationally recognized expert on religious liberty in Russia, 
Larry Uzzell, has written that even in Moscow some 10 Baptist 
congregations have ceased to exist because local bureaucrats refused to 
allow rentals or property transfers for the use of worship services.
  Mr. Speaker, I am concerned that the religious liberty picture in 
Russia is deteriorating at a critical time for Russia. Russia is an 
OSCE participating state and assumes the leadership of the Council of 
Europe in May of this year. Russia also chairs the G-8 this year. A 
nation holding such positions should not be a country where members of 
minority religious groups need to constantly battle with bureaucrats in 
order to have a place to worship, or to get permission from the local 
clergy of another faith in order to hold a public gathering, or to 
wonder if their prayer house will be the target of vandalism.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 190, and I 
again thank my Helsinki Commission Chairman, Chris Smith, for 
introducing this resolution, and for his tireless efforts on behalf of 
religious freedom and liberty around the world. I also join Chairman 
Smith in commending John Finerty of the Helsinki Commission staff for 
his decades of service to the Commission, and I especially thank him 
for assisting me in my interactions with members of the Russian Duma 
through our OSCE Parliamentary Assembly process.
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 190, 
urging the Russian Federation to protect and ensure religious freedom 
for all people in Russia.
  Last year witnesses at a Helsinki Commission hearing on unregistered 
religious groups in Russia, provided alarming reports about the actions 
of local authorities towards unregistered or minority religious 
communities. Recurring reports of police harassment and criminal 
violence (that is rarely vigorously investigated) against these groups 
is jeopardizing the status of religious liberties in Russia.
  Adding to the concerns are recent reports that the Duma is preparing 
legislation to regulate the activities of missionaries. Reportedly, the 
bill would create administrative and criminal penalties for ``unlawful 
missionary work connected with provoking religious extremism.'' There 
was also speculation in the Russian media that the Justice Ministry was 
looking to tighten the rules for granting visas to foreign 
missionaries. Furthermore, there are also reports that the Duma is 
considering an amendment to existing legislation that would require re-
registration of registered religious organizations.
  Mr. Speaker, these initiatives make evident that some people in the 
Russian government believe the role of the state is to control 
religious freedom rather than to facilitate and protect free 
expression. Officials know that it is very difficult for unregistered 
religious organizations to function effectively and freely--they know 
that limiting the actions of missionaries and restricting the 
distribution of visas would be the best option to control the growth of 
religious organizations.
  The Congress must send a clear signal to President Putin and other 
Russian officials that religious freedom is a critically important 
issue and that we expect Russia to uphold its own constitution and its 
international commitments and protect the fundamental right of freedom 
of conscience. This resolution specifically urges Russia to fully 
protect religious freedoms for all religious communities, whether 
registered or unregistered, and to prevent the harassment of 
unregistered religious groups by the security apparatus and other 
government agencies. I strongly urge my colleagues to support H. Con. 
Res. 190.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 190.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will 
be postponed.

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