[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 35 (Monday, March 5, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H1137]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            PRESIDENT PUTIN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Dreier) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to extend congratulations to Vladimir 
Putin for his election to become President of Russia. We saw the 
reports yesterday. There were nearly 100,000 Web cams that followed the 
voting stations all across Russia, and even though there have been 
reports from the Organization For Security and Cooperation in Europe of 
voting violations, we are where we are. Vladimir Putin is going to be 
the next President of Russia.
  I believe that, in light of that fact, it's important for President 
Putin to recognize that, contrary to what he said in his acceptance 
speech last night, we do not want to destroy Russia. I believe that it 
is very important that we take every step that we can to encourage a 
strong, vibrant, growing, independent, democratic Russia. I'm not going 
to, as President Putin said last night, dictate from the West what he 
should do, but I do think that those of us, like the United States of 
America, a country that has had a 223-year history of democracy, could 
provide a little bit of advice to a country that is just now beginning 
to enter its third decade of democracy and obviously has had more than 
a few challenges.
  Now, Mr. Speaker, I think that if we look at some of the 
recommendations, the economists last week pointed to some very positive 
steps that could allow President Putin to, rather than repressing the 
opposition that he faces, embrace it. Now, what could he do?
  First, he could announce that this 6-year term will be his last term, 
that he will not run again as President of Russia.
  Second, it would be very important in light of all of the controversy 
that took place following last December's parliamentary elections for 
him to call new parliamentary elections so we could have a greater 
degree of transparency and accountability.
  Third, as we look at the prospect of provincial elections, what are 
tantamount to governorships, having those elections being free and fair 
would be a very positive thing.
  Additionally, I was very glad to hear the news this morning from 
current President Dmitry Medvedev about the prospect of releasing my 
friend who sat with me on numerous occasions here in the Capitol, 
Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who was the head of Yukos Oil, one of the great 
energy companies in the world, and was a great philanthropist in the 
country, and was guilty of one thing and one thing only, that being 
opposing Vladimir Putin. The prospect of his release would be a very 
welcome sign.
  I also think, Mr. Speaker, that as we look at the prospect of the 
appointment of a new prime minister, there are names that have been 
thrown out there. Alexei Kudrin, who formerly served as finance 
minister, would be someone who would be very welcome in light of the 
fact that he has actually engaged the protesters.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I throw these proposals out simply because I believe 
that we need to have a strong, vibrant, growing Russia. We need to 
recognize that those countries that are formerly part of the Soviet 
Union should also have an opportunity to be strong, vibrant, 
democratic, and independent without facing repression.
  I do also believe, Mr. Speaker, that as we look at the debate that 
we're going to face here, that bringing Russia into a rules-based 
trading system by seeing them join the World Trade Organization would 
be a very positive thing as we pursue our shared goals.
  So, again, as we look forward to the important relationship between 
Russia and the United States of America, I wish President-elect Putin 
hearty congratulations.

                          ____________________