[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 154 (Wednesday, October 21, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1496]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





   SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE TO FREELY ELECT THEIR GOVERNMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 20, 2015

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 348 in 
support of the people of Ukraine in their exercise of their self 
determination to free, fair and uninterrupted elections.
  As the country with the oldest and most powerful democracy in the 
world, the United States has supported democracy, the rule of law and 
human rights all over the globe from Nigeria to Pakistan to China, to 
name a few.
  The outcome of the October 25 elections in Ukraine is at the backdrop 
of the forcible and illegal occupation of Crimea, ordered by President 
Vladimir Putin of Russia.
  The rights of the people of Ukraine to free, fair and transparent 
elections is especially critical, with Crimea currently under siege of 
Russian-led separatists who continue their attacks on Ukraine's forces 
set in place to protect the sovereignty of Ukraine.
  Here in Congress, we have worked tirelessly to support free and fair 
elections in Ukraine through our support of its May 2014 elections, 
ensuring that international standards were upheld just as we have 
assisted in many elections in countries in transition or fighting 
insecurity from Nigeria to Pakistan.
  In Nigeria and Pakistan, the elections occurred at the background of 
terrorism from Boko Haram, Al Qaida and other terrorist networks, who 
acted so viciously and caused thousands of Nigerians and Pakistanis to 
lose their lives and livelihoods.
  Similarly, the citizens of Ukraine are at risk of being 
disenfranchised because of separatist controlled areas.
  To this end the United States has worked to broker peace in Ukraine 
so that the people of Ukraine can exercise their right to self 
determination though our support of the cease-fire agreement brokered 
between Ukraine, Russia and the Russian-led separatists which was not 
fully implemented and the subsequent Minsk Implementation Agreement.
  But I say to the people of the Ukraine, remain strong, we stand with 
you in exercising your Constitutional and human right to choose who 
will represent you.
  The upcoming October 25, 2015 elections are critical for sustainable 
legislative and constitutional reform in Ukraine which will help 
promote democracy, the rule of law, upholding of human rights, the 
creation of security, all of which will catalyze the economic, social, 
cultural and political enfranchisement of the people of Ukraine, 
securing a bright future for the capable and exciting youth of Ukraine.
  Indeed, here in Congress, we have taken numerous actions to uphold 
the sanctity of the right to economic, political and social 
enfranchisement of the people of Ukraine by passing the following 
legislation:
  The Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014, authorizing the United 
States President to provide Ukraine's government with support necessary 
to set up infrastructure for reforms that will facilitate restoring 
Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity including lethal 
defense services and articles, such as anti-tank, anti-armor and 
counter-artillery radar (worth $100 million in FY 2015 and $125 million 
in each of fiscal years 2016 and 2017 for such weapons); and
  Sovereignty, Integrity, Democracy, and Economic Stability of Ukraine 
Act of 2014, which authorized loan guarantees for the Government of 
Ukraine.
  Due to its geographical location, the Central European nation of 
Ukraine historically has been pushed and pulled between its neighbors 
with Europe to its west and Russia to its east.
  This push pull from interested parties has caused conflict over the 
direction Ukraine would take after its independence from the former 
Soviet Union in 1991.
  For example, in November of 2013, Ukrainian President Viktor 
Yanukovych suspended negotiations with the European Union over an 
agreement to integrate Ukraine into various European economic and 
political associations and instead accepted $15 billion and other 
inducements to enter into closer ties with Moscow.
  The decisions taken by President Yanukovych triggered demonstrations 
by thousands of Ukrainian citizens in the capital city of Kiev and 
throughout the country which led to numerous arrests, detentions and 
violent clashes, which led to the deaths of close to 100 protesters in 
February 2014.
  In a cowardly act, President Yanukovych fled to the predominantly 
ethnic Russian region of Crimea in southeastern Ukraine, and then to 
Russia because of the chaos caused by his suspension of negotiations 
with the EU and the subsequent unrest that ensued, which also caused 
his unpopularity within his own party.
  After President Yanukovych deserted his own people, an opportunistic 
Russian military force took up positions throughout Crimea, where, 
under a series of treaties that followed the dissolution of the Soviet 
Union, Russia had continued to maintain a series of military bases, 
notably at Sevastopol, where the Russian Black Sea naval fleet is 
based.
  Indeed, Crimea itself was technically transferred from the Soviet 
republic of Russia to the Soviet republic of Ukraine in 1954.
  Subsequently, in March 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed 
legislation formally incorporating Crimea into Russia.
  The United States and the European Union have opined that Russia's 
action is illegal and we have imposed a series of economic sanctions on 
Russia.
  Russia continues to provide military equipment, training and other 
assistance to separatists and paramilitary forces in eastern Ukraine, 
resulting in an ongoing conflict with an estimated 6,000 deaths, 
hundreds of thousands of refugees and widespread destruction.
  The Russian-led separatists in eastern Ukraine continue to refuse to 
implement Ukrainian law and stand in the way of the Ukrainian 
authorities to conduct elections in areas controlled by the separatists 
and hence are a stumbling block to free and fair elections in those 
areas.
  Yet under all this stress, Ukraine continues to strive for its self 
determination.
  I commend all anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine.
  The state Anti-Corruption Strategy Program Implementation for 2014-
2017, which delineates anti-corruption reforms, persons, deadlines and 
infrastructure;
  The creation of a National Agency for Prevention of Corruption;
  The Ukrainian Law on Prevention of corruption, a new system which 
outlines financial control with electronic asset declaration of public 
servants;
   The specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office;
  Corruption Offender Registry; and
  Many more efforts to combat corruption and enhance the rule of law 
and financial integrity in Ukraine.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this resolution protecting the rights 
of the people of Ukraine to freely elect their government and determine 
their future.
  Mr. Speaker, I also urge the Administration to expedite assistance to 
Ukraine to facilitate the political, economic and social reforms 
necessary for free and fair elections that meet international 
standards.
  The Russian government, Russian-led separatists, its agents and 
supporters should not interfere in Ukraine's elections, through 
intimidation, violence or coercion.
  The current relentless political, economic and military aggression on 
the people of Ukraine geared at subverting the independence, self 
determination and the territorial integrity of Ukraine must stop.
  I urge the people of Ukraine to help facilitate free and fair 
elections in Ukraine.

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