[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 137 (Friday, August 17, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1158-E1159]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        RUSSIA STILL OCCUPIES GEORGIAN TERRITORY 10 YEARS LATER

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, August 17, 2018

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, 10 years ago, Russian tanks rolled 
across the border into the independent nation of Georgia. I was there 
and saw the little green men with my own eyes. After five days of 
bloody fighting, with thousands of innocent Georgians displaced from 
their homes, the conflict ended with a pledge by Russia to pull back 
its forces.
  Ten years later, however, Moscow's troops remain on Georgian 
territory, occupying a third of the country. The Kremlin claims these 
Russian troops in Georgia are just noble peacekeepers, but this is a 
bold-faced lie. They are a heavily armed battle-group waiting to 
provoke tiny Georgia into another fight. They routinely engage in 
``creeping occupation,'' slowly taking more and more territory by 
moving the border line in the dark of night. They have committed 
horrific human rights abuses against the Georgian people, often 
harassing civilians and denying Georgians the ability to move about 
their country freely. The continued presence of Russian troops on 
Georgian soil presents a major violation of international law, setting 
a precedent for other rogue regimes to follow.
  America's response at the time was condemnation and sanctions but 
this proved insufficient to fully deter future aggression. Only years 
later, the Obama administration removed the punishing sanctions against 
Russia as part of its foolish ``reset'' with the Kremlin. We now know 
this demonstration of weakness only encouraged further aggression from 
Russia, with it again invading a neighboring state in 2014. This time, 
it seized and annexed Crimea from Ukraine, another independent 
sovereign state that Russia had sworn to respect.
  After 10 years of illegal occupation of Georgian territory, we need 
to do more to help our Georgian friends resist the Russian bear. 
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Georgia emerged as a beacon 
of hope in a region full of turmoil and corruption. This is exactly why 
Russia invaded. Russia hoped to break this beacon of hope 10 years ago, 
but Georgia has remained defiant. We must be defiant with our friends 
to prevent further acts of aggression and hopefully begin to reverse 
Moscow's deadly expansionism.
  As co-chair of the Congressional Georgia Caucus, I have long seen 
that major vulnerabilities remain that Russia could exploit. While 
military cooperation and training has improved significantly, Georgia 
still lacks the technology and resources to realistically deter and 
defend itself from future Russian aggression. Georgia is a small 
country, with a GDP around $14 billion. It cannot afford to compete 
with the might of the Russian military alone. That is why I have 
introduced H.R. 6219, the Georgia Support Act, with my Georgia Caucus 
co-chair, Rep. Connolly. Through this important bill, we hope to 
significantly enhance Georgia's ability to combat and deter Moscow's 
wicked activities.
  Putin must be shown that his dream of rebuilding the Soviet Empire is 
impossible. And we must show our freedom loving friends

[[Page E1159]]

around the globe that America is ready and able to stand with them in 
the face of foreign oppression. The Georgian people have shown they 
will fight for their freedom, even against overwhelming odds. And while 
the Kremlin believes that it has prevented Georgia's aspirations of 
joining NATO by seizing its territory, we can send a signal that their 
victory is hollow.
  The days of conquering your neighbor are over. As cunning as Putin 
may be, he will never be Napoleon. Georgia is still on the path towards 
greater integration with the West. Georgia will remain free and 
prosperous. And Russia will find itself isolated and full of regret for 
ever following Putin's foolish ambition.
  And that's just the way it is.

                          ____________________