[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 91 (Thursday, June 23, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1188]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     UKRAINE'S DEMOCRATIC REVERSALS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 23, 2011

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my deep 
concern about the deterioration of democracy in Ukraine over the past 
16 months, and the current Ukrainian leadership's use of politically 
motivated selective prosecution to harass high-ranking officials from 
the previous government. The country's once-promising democratic future 
is in jeopardy. While we face many serious challenges in every region 
of the world today, nonetheless it is imperative that Washington focus 
attention on what is happening in Ukraine--especially given that 
country's vital role in the region.
  As a long-time member and current Chairman of the Helsinki 
Commission, I have followed and spoken out on developments in Ukraine 
since the early 1980's, when the rights of the Ukrainian people were 
completely denied and any brave soul who advocated for freedom was 
brutally persecuted.
  Mr. Speaker, for nearly two decades, independent Ukraine has been 
moving away from its communist past while establishing itself as an 
important partner to the United States. Both the executive branch and 
Congress, on a bipartisan basis, have provided strong political support 
and concrete assistance for Ukraine's independence and facilitated 
Ukraine's post-Communist transition. In the wake of the 2004 Orange 
Revolution, Ukraine even became a beacon of hope for other post-Soviet 
countries, earning the designation of ``Free'' from Freedom House--the 
only country among the 12 non-Baltic former Soviet republics to earn 
such a ranking. And while many of the promises of that revolution have 
sadly gone unfulfilled, one of its successes had been Ukraine's rise 
from ``Partly Free'' to ``Free,'' reflecting genuine improvements in 
human rights and democratic practices.
  Under President Viktor Yanukovych, elected in February 2010, this 
promising legacy may vanish. Today we see backsliding on many fronts, 
which threatens to return Ukraine to authoritarianism and jeopardizes 
its independence from Russia. Among the most worrisome of these trends 
are: consolidation of power in the presidency which has weakened checks 
and balances; backpedaling with respect to freedom of expression and 
assembly; various forms of pressure on the media and civil society 
groups; attempts to curtail academic freedom and that of institutions 
and activists who peacefully promote the Ukrainian national identity; 
and seriously flawed local elections. Meanwhile, endemic corruption--
arguably the greatest and most persistent threat to Ukrainian democracy 
and sovereignty--as well as the weak rule of law and the lack of an 
independent judiciary, which were not seriously addressed by the Orange 
governments, have only become more pronounced under the current regime.
  Moreover, in recent months, we have seen intensified pressure on 
opposition leaders, even selective prosecutions of high-ranking members 
of the previous government. The vast majority of observers both within 
and outside Ukraine see these cases, which have targeted former Prime 
Minister Yuliya Tymoshenko and former Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko 
among others, as politically motivated acts of revenge which aim to 
remove possible contenders from the political scene, especially in the 
run-up to next year's parliamentary elections.
  Mr. Speaker, the Helsinki Commission has closely monitored these 
troubling trends as have the U.S., other Western governments, and the 
European Parliament and Council of Europe. Unfortunately, the Ukrainian 
authorities have largely downplayed concerns voiced by the European 
Union, which they aspire to join someday, and by the United States, 
with which Kyiv professes to seek better relations.
  The U.S. also desires enhanced bilateral ties. Yet, moving in the 
wrong direction on human rights, democracy and the rule of law 
decidedly works against strengthening U.S.-Ukrainian relations. More 
importantly, the erosion of hard-won democratic freedoms weakens 
Ukraine's independence and harms the people of Ukraine, who have 
endured a painful history as a captive nation over the course of the 
last century. Indeed, as Ukraine this week marks the 70th anniversary 
of the brutal Nazi invasion, we mourn the loss of life and untold human 
suffering of that horrific war.
  Against this backdrop of devastation wreaked by totalitarian regimes 
in the 20th century, Ukrainians deserve to have the promise of 
democracy made possible by their independence fully realized.
  A few days ago, President Yanukovych said that he would take into 
account the criticisms in Freedom House's recent ``Sounding the Alarm: 
Protecting Democracy in Ukraine'' report. His promise is encouraging, 
but words alone are not enough. All friends of Ukraine should measure 
his words by actual and meaningful changes that improve the state of 
democracy and human rights for the Ukrainian people.

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