[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 110 (Tuesday, June 27, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H5214-H5217]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONDEMNING THE VIOLENCE AND PERSECUTION IN CHECHNYA
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 351) condemning the violence and
persecution in Chechnya, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 351
Whereas, on April 1, 2017, the Russian newspaper Novaya
Gazeta reported that authorities in Chechnya, a republic of
the Russian Federation, had abducted, detained, and tortured
over 100 men due to their actual or suspected sexual
orientation;
Whereas multiple independent and first-hand accounts have
subsequently corroborated the Novaya Gazeta report, and
describe a campaign of persecution by Chechen officials
against men due to their actual or suspected sexual
orientation;
Whereas, as a result of this persecution, at least three
deaths have been reported and many individuals have been
forced to flee Chechnya;
Whereas Chechen officials have denied the existence of such
persecution, including through a statement by the spokesman
for Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov that ``You cannot arrest or
repress people who don't exist in the republic.'';
Whereas the same spokesman for Ramzan Kadyrov has also
stated that ``If such people existed in Chechnya, law
enforcement would not have to worry about them, as their own
relatives would have sent them to where they could never
return,'' and credible reports indicate that Chechen
authorities have encouraged families to carry out so-called
``honor killings'' of relatives due to their actual or
suspected sexual orientation;
Whereas Chechnya is a constituent republic of the Russian
Federation and subject to its laws, and Ramzan Kadyrov was
installed as the leader of Chechnya by Russian President
Vladimir Putin;
Whereas Chechen authorities have a long history of
violating the fundamental human rights of their citizens,
including through extrajudicial executions, forced
disappearances, and torture of government critics;
Whereas Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed reports
of persecution in Chechnya and termed them ``phantom
complaints'';
Whereas Russia's Human Rights Ombudsman, Tatyana
Moskalkova, has also claimed that such reports should not be
believed because formal complaints have not been registered
with the appropriate authorities;
Whereas the Russian Federation is a participating State of
the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and a
signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and
thus has agreed to guarantee the fundamental human rights of
all of its citizens;
Whereas, on April 7, 2017, the United States Department of
State issued a statement saying ``We categorically condemn
the persecution of individuals based on their sexual
orientation'' and urging the Government of the Russian
Federation to take steps to ensure the release of all those
wrongfully detained in Chechnya, and to conduct a credible
investigation of the reports; and
Whereas, on April 17, 2017, United States Ambassador to the
United Nations Nikki Haley issued a statement saying
``Chechen authorities must immediately investigate these
allegations, hold anyone involved accountable, and take steps
to prevent future abuses. We are against all forms of
discrimination, including against people based on sexual
orientation. When left unchecked, discrimination and human
rights abuses can lead to destabilization and conflict.'':
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) condemns the violence and persecution in Chechnya and
calls on Chechen officials to immediately cease the
abduction, detention, and torture of individuals on the basis
of their actual or suspected sexual orientation, and hold
accountable all those involved in perpetrating such abuses;
(2) calls on the Government of the Russian Federation to
protect the human rights of all its citizens, condemn the
violence and persecution, investigate these crimes in
Chechnya, and hold accountable all those involved in
perpetrating such abuses;
(3) calls on the United States Government to continue to
condemn the violence and persecution in Chechnya, demand the
release of individuals wrongfully detained, and identify
those individuals whose involvement in this violence
qualifies for the imposition of sanctions under the Sergei
Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012 (Public Law
112-208; 22 U.S.C. 5811 note) or the Global Magnitsky Human
Rights Accountability Act (Public Law 114-328); and
(4) affirms that the rights to freedom of assembly,
association, and expression and freedom from extrajudicial
detention and violence are universal human rights that apply
to all persons, and that countries that fail to respect these
rights jeopardize the security and prosperity of all their
citizens.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their
remarks and
[[Page H5215]]
include extraneous material in the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, the ruler of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, rules a
dictatorship of medieval brutality. Those who challenge or simply
displease him often disappear in that country, or they are murdered
outright.
His latest campaign of persecution is aimed at gay men and women, and
those perceived to be gay, who have been abducted, tortured, and even
killed, with many others that are forced to flee the country. When the
Russian newspaper, Novaya Gazeta, reported these atrocities, his
spokesmen dismissed the accusations, saying that such people ``don't
even exist in the republic,'' and then threatened the journalists who
brought the story to light.
Caught unaware by the unexpected publicity, Chechen authorities have
choked off independent sources of information. We do not know the exact
status of this campaign or its many victims, but there is no doubt that
the situation there for sexual minorities in general has long been, and
remains, oppressive.
Disturbing reports indicate that Kadyrov has now turned his focus
from abducting and torturing gay men and women to pressuring their
families to murder them through so-called honor killings of these men
and women. This is despicable.
Vladimir Putin deserves some of the blame here. Chechnya is a
constituent republic of the Russian Federation, of which he is the
President. As such, he has a sworn responsibility to ensure that the
Russian Constitution is fully implemented, which, at least on paper,
professes to guarantee basic rights for all citizens. Russia is also a
signatory to many international agreements that formally commit it to
protecting a broad array of human rights.
Yet the Russian Government's response has been largely dismissive, if
not two-faced. Kremlin spokesmen have called the reports phantom
complaints, yet also recommended that victims report grievances to the
Chechen authorities accused of carrying out the attacks. And, of
course, there has been no criticism of Kadyrov in the Russian state-
controlled media--barely even a mention of the issue.
That is why this resolution is of such importance. By shining a light
on these crimes in this dark corner, we seek to give hope to those who
otherwise may have none at all. And we say unequivocally, to Kadyrov,
and to Putin, that these atrocities are in plain view, and that their
cowardly and evasive responses are not fooling anyone.
I want to thank Chairman Emeritus Ros-Lehtinen, the author of this
resolution, and Ranking Member Engel for their leadership on this
resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1530
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure. Let me first thank my
colleagues on the Foreign Affairs Committee, particularly Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen from Florida, and Mr. Cicilline from Rhode Island, for their
work on this measure, and for their leadership supporting LGBT
communities around the world. I also thank Chairman Royce for support
of this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, day after day, we hear new reports of abuse of LGBT
individuals in Chechnya. This spring, authorities rounded up hundreds
of gay men. Some were tortured, some were murdered. Reports from civil
society and activists tell us that Chechen authorities have rounded up
LGBT individuals, beaten them, tortured them with electric shocks, and
outed them to their families in the perverse hope of provoking so-
called ``honor killings.'' This is horrific.
Let's not forget that Chechnya is part of Russia, as the chairman
said. These crimes--this disregard for human rights and human dignity
lie at the feet of Vladimir Putin and his crony in Chechnya, Ramzan
Kadyrov.
No one anywhere should face violence, persecution, or death because
of who they love. ``Gay rights are human rights, and human rights are
gay rights,'' as Hillary Clinton said when she was Secretary of State.
But under Putin's rule, those rights are a myth.
So I was disappointed when Secretary Tillerson testified before the
Foreign Affairs Committee about whether those atrocities were on the
agenda with his Russian counterparts. ``These are on the pending
list,'' he told us.
The United States should never put basic human rights on the
``pending list.'' Unless we shed a light on these abuses and demand
that they be stopped, we are betraying our most fundamental values. So
today I am glad the House, in a bipartisan way, is speaking out to
condemn this violence and persecution, to stand up for the freedoms of
assembly and expression, and to say that we believe that LGBT rights
are human rights that must be protected around the world.
I am glad to support this measure. Again, I thank Chairman Ed Royce,
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and David Cicilline.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), the chairman emeritus of
the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and, of course, the author of this
measure.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank, as always, our esteemed
chairman, Mr. Royce from California, as well as Mr. Engel from New
York, who really run our committee in the most fair, bipartisan way
possible.
I think that our committee is an example for the rest of the House.
But I am so grateful to have worked alongside my chairman and ranking
member, and all of the colleagues in the House Foreign Affairs
Committee in a bipartisan manner; particularly, Mr. Issa, Mr.
Cicilline, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Lowenthal, in introducing and bringing to
the floor this important resolution, H. Res. 351, Condemning the
Violence and Persecution in Chechnya.
Since early April, there have been credible reports that gay or
perceived-to-be-gay men in the Russian republic of Chechnya have been
rounded up, have been detained, have been put into prison camps by the
authorities of Chechnya. And according to international human rights
groups and activists on the ground, the situation has rapidly
escalated. Despite the international attention and the rage, the
beatings and torture did not stop. Men continued to be tortured on a
daily basis, and, allegedly, at least 20 men have been killed.
The latest reports indicate that lesbians are also being targeted
now. This government campaign targeting LGBT individuals is also
inciting ``honor killings.'' Families are being threatened and act out
of fear of also being persecuted. This is appalling.
Putin has given free rein to the Chechen leader and has significant
influence over what goes on in Chechnya. Let's not forget Russia's
deplorable human rights record of silencing religious minorities, of
prohibiting freedom of expression, of restricting free association of
LGBT individuals. This is Russia's record. It is Chechnya's as well.
Nothing has been done. No perpetrators have been brought to justice.
This is why it is up to us in the United States to not sit idly by
while this state-sponsored persecution is ongoing. This bipartisan
resolution, Mr. Speaker, does not only shed light on this dreadful
human rights disaster, but it also calls on the officials of Chechnya
to immediately put an end to the abduction and violence of individuals
based on their real or perceived sexual orientation.
It calls on Putin to uphold the international commitments and protect
the human rights of all people upon which Russia has entered. They have
signed these commitments, yet they don't fulfill them. It holds
accountable those individuals in the attacks who will also be
sanctioned under two existing U.S. sanctions laws that we have passed:
Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act and the Global
Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.
Today, this body has the ability to once again be that strong voice
for human rights of all individuals and to send a clear message to any
oppressor that the United States will not turn a blind eye against
violence, harassment,
[[Page H5216]]
and discrimination, no matter where it happens.
As a country, we have the responsibility to promote our deeply
cherished American values and reaffirm our commitment to fundamental
freedom, especially for those who live under the shadow of oppression
and tyranny. We stand in solidarity with the persecuted, with the
religious minorities, with the ethnic groups, with the suppressed
women, and, in this case, with the LGBT community, because the respect
of human rights of all people remains a U.S. foreign policy priority.
I thank my colleagues for their overwhelming support from both sides
of the aisle who have supported this important resolution, which sends
a unified message that the United States is committed to promoting
human rights and that this crisis must end now because this matter is
not just an LGBT issue--as important as it is--it is a human life
matter and it deserves support from all of us.
Everyone deserves dignity. Everyone deserves respect in the place
they call home, no matter where that is around the world. It is time to
put an end to Chechnya's barbaric LGBT purge.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for the time and I thank the
ranking member as well.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode
Island (Mr. Cicilline), a coauthor of this resolution and someone who
is fighting for human rights all the time.
Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York for
yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H. Res. 351, which condemns the
violence and persecution against LGBT or perceived-to-be LGBT
individuals in Chechnya.
This resolution is an example of the strong bipartisanship of the
House Foreign Affairs Committee under the leadership of Chairman Ed
Royce and Ranking Member Eliot Engel. I thank my good friend, Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen, who has long been a champion of the dignity of all people
around the world, for introducing H. Res. 351. I also thank the
chairman and ranking member for working with us to ensure this
resolution was passed without delay and with the support of the full
committee.
On April 1 of this year, the Novaya Gazeta, one of the few
independent Russian newspapers, posted a chilling report detailing a
concerted campaign by Chechen authorities to identify, round up,
torture, and murder gay or perceived-to-be-gay men and women in the
Chechen region of Russia.
Dozens of suspected LGBT men and some women have been rounded up with
estimates of more than 100 people being detained, and at least three
murdered, maybe many more. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has denied the
reports. When confronted with accusations, his spokesman denied there
were any gay people in Chechnya, and explained that, ``If there were
such people in Chechnya, law enforcement agencies wouldn't need to have
anything to do with them because their relatives would send them
somewhere from which there is no returning.''
In fact, there have been credible reports that Chechen authorities
have forced family members of those detained or those suspected of
being gay to commit ``honor killings'' or face violence and retaliation
against their entire families.
Chechnya is a small, conservative region of Russia, and LGBT people
there face a level of isolation and danger that is unthinkable to those
of us living in the freedom of the United States. Even those who have
managed to escape Chechnya continue to face danger from extended family
members or Chechen authorities within Russia and even parts of Europe.
That is why it is so important that the United States work with our
partners in Europe and assist in making sure that those fleeing the
violence in Chechnya are relocated somewhere they can be safe. H. Res.
351 condemns the violence and persecution against LGBT individuals in
Chechnya and calls on Chechen officials to immediately cease the
abduction, detention, and torture of individuals on the basis of their
actual or suspected sexual orientation, and hold accountable all those
involved in perpetrating such abuses.
Furthermore, this resolution calls on the government of the Russian
Federation to protect the human rights of all its citizens, condemn the
violence and persecution, investigate these crimes in Chechnya, and
hold accountable all of those involved in perpetrating such abuses.
We must remember that President Kadyrov is a close ally of President
Putin, and that the Russian Government has essentially sanctioned the
atrocities that are being carried out on its soil. That is why it is so
important that representatives of the United States Government, at the
highest levels, raise this issue with President Putin and other Russian
officials.
I was extremely disappointed when Secretary of State Tillerson
appeared before the Foreign Affairs Committee earlier this month and
admitted that neither he nor the President had raised this issue with
anyone in the Russian Government. The United States must make it clear
that human rights abuses will not be tolerated.
The President, the Secretary of State, and other senior officials
must raise this issue consistently with the Russian Government and make
it clear that they must protect the lives and safety of all Russian
citizens.
Additionally, the Trump administration must take steps to ensure that
any Russian officials involved in these atrocities are being sanctioned
under the Sergei Magnitsky Act and the Global Magnitsky Human Rights
Accountability Act, which we passed last year. Events like these are
exactly why these bills were passed, to ensure that government
officials involved in gross human rights abuses do not have the
privilege of accessing American markets or traveling to the United
States.
Furthermore, the administration should be working in concert with our
European allies to ensure that Russia is being held to its
international obligations and treaties. The lives of vulnerable men and
women are at stake, and every day that we remain silent, we condemn
more to a dark fate.
I am pleased that the House is considering this resolution tonight. I
urge my colleagues to support it. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Connolly), a valued member of the committee.
Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend for yielding.
I rise to remind us that Martin Luther King once said: ``Injustice
anywhere threatens justice everywhere.''
We are all in this together. The idea that we can cherry-pick whose
rights we will proclaim and defend is a mistaken notion. It is also un-
American. So the future rights of LGBT members in Chechnya are
important to Americans, and we need to stand up for their security,
their safety, and their fundamental human rights.
This resolution is important. I congratulate the chairman and ranking
member for bringing it before us. I congratulate my good friend, Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen, and David Cicilline for their leadership. I am proud to
support this resolution today.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield
myself the balance of my time.
Let me, first of all, again thank Representative Ros-Lehtinen, who is
always working really hard and is on top of issues that are so
important. We really appreciate her leadership and everything she does
in the committee; Mr. Cicilline, who has fought for LGBT rights; and,
of course, my partner on the committee, Chairman Royce. Things like
this show the bipartisanship of our committee, which I think is really
important.
Occasionally we hear talk about Vladimir Putin that implies some sort
of moral equivalency between the way he runs Russia and American
policies. If you want to know how false that comparison is, take a look
at what is happening in Chechnya. Take a look at the violence that
Putin's thugs are waging against innocent citizens. That is how Putin
regards the rights of his own people. That is what we are here to
condemn today.
The United States should continue to make advancing and protecting
human rights a foreign policy priority, including the rights of LGBT
communities.
[[Page H5217]]
I urge a ``yes'' vote on this measure. I thank Chairman Royce, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, as an original cosponsor of this bill, I, again, thank
Chairman Emeritus Ros-Lehtinen. I thank Ranking Member Engel, as well
as Representatives Darrell Issa, David Cicilline, Chris Smith, and
Gerry Connolly for their important work on this resolution.
The abduction, torture, and targeted killings that we are seeing in
Chechnya are an affront to the core universal values that all nation-
states must strive to protect. The U.S. has a long history of speaking
out on behalf of persecuted minorities, and that is what we are doing
here today.
We cannot end injustice everywhere, but we can expose it. We can
bring it to the world's attention and, in so doing, give hope to its
innocent victims.
I ask all Members to speak clearly and to speak unanimously in
condemning this violence.
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 California (Mr. Royce) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 351, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________