[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 158 (Monday, September 14, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S5563]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 RUSSIA

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, the poisoning of Russian opposition 
leader Alexei Navalny, which happened last month, was a very disgusting 
thing to hear about. Such action in Russia or by Russia is not 
unprecedented. In 2015, the leading democracy advocate in Russia, Boris 
Nemtsov, was gunned down within the sight of the Kremlin. The square in 
front of the Russian Embassy in Washington is now named in his honor, 
echoing the effort that I led to name the street in front of the old 
Russian Embassy after the dissident Andrei Sakharov.
  Nemtsov's protege in the Russian opposition, Vladimir Kara-Murza, was 
then poisoned--poisoned twice but miraculously survived and continues 
to work for Russian democracy. The good news is that Mr. Navalny is 
reportedly conscious.
  Now, a silver lining may also be that Putin's latest attempted 
assassination is bringing our allies toward a consensus to treat Putin 
as a pariah.
  There are reports of senior German politicians reconsidering their 
support for Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which divides our European allies. 
This pipeline is opposed by countries like Poland and the Baltics that 
truly understand that Putin will use it as a strategic influence tool, 
as well as by the Trump administration and bipartisan majorities in 
Congress.
  I hope all of these happenings are a start of a new era of 
cooperation with our Russian allies to counter Russian influence.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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