[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 33 (Wednesday, March 15, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E380]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E380]]
  EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION SHOULD 
    FULLY PROTECT THE FREEDOMS OF ALL RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES WITHOUT 
                              DISTINCTION

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 14, 2006

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this important Resolution 
offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), urging the 
Russian Federation to fully protect the freedoms of all religious 
communities without distinction, whether registered or unregistered, as 
stipulated by the Russian Constitution and international standards.
  It is undoubtedly true that the Russian Federation has made 
democratic progress since the breakup of the former Soviet Union. 
However, there is legitimate cause for concern that Russia is 
backsliding on some of the most basic democratic values, including the 
fundamental and inalienable human right to worship God according to the 
dictates of one's own conscience.
  As this Resolution points out, registration is critical for religious 
groups to fully enjoy their religious freedoms. In fact, many of the 
rights and privileges afforded to religious communities are contingent 
upon registration.
  Yet, some religious communities have been unjustly denied 
registration or had their registration improperly terminated. Other 
religious communities refuse to seek registration on theological or 
other grounds. In addition, there have been arson attacks on 
unregistered Protestant churches, with little or no effective response 
to bring the perpetrators to justice. And, in some areas of the Russian 
Federation, law enforcement authorities have carried out violent 
actions against believers from unregistered communities peacefully 
practicing their faith.
  These actions are counter to values that democratic society's embrace 
and they are simply unacceptable.
  As the former Chair and Ranking Democrat on the Commission on 
Security and Cooperation and Europe, I am well aware of the history of 
religious persecution and discrimination in Russia. In fact, when I 
served as Chairman of the Commission, I frequently met with religious 
dissidents and their families in the former Soviet Union. For example, 
during a Congressional delegation trip in 1988, Congressman Smith and I 
met with Russian Baptists at the Hotel Pulkovo in Leningrad and with 
Father Gleb Yakunin at his apartment in Moscow. I also met with 
numerous Soviet Jewish refuseniks, some of whom were prosecuted for 
teaching Jewish traditions and history.
  This Resolution, among other things, urges the Russian Federation to 
ensure full protection 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. In addition, it urges the Russian 
Federation to vigorously investigate acts of violence against 
unregistered religious communities.
  Mr. Speaker, I know there is sometimes a temptation to look upon 
Resolutions such as this one as mere words on paper without significant 
meaning. However, we know from experience that we must never under 
estimate the power of our democratic ideals and values.
  The truth is, the signing of the Helsinki Final Act in 1975--with its 
emphasis on respect for human rights--was instrumental in focusing 
attention on human rights abuses, including religious persecution, in 
the former Soviet Union. And, the attention on these abuses was such an 
embarrassment to the former Soviet government that it slowly, if 
grudgingly, began to address them.
  Today, we must be no less vigilant in holding the Russian government 
to account for these on-going abuses.
  I urge my colleagues to vote for this Resolution.

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