[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 98 (Tuesday, June 11, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H3699-H3701]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1645
CONDEMNING RUSSIA'S UNJUST AND ARBITRARY DETENTION OF RUSSIAN
OPPOSITION LEADER VLADIMIR KARA-MURZA
Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 27) condemning Russia's unjust and
arbitrary detention of Russian opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza
who has stood up in defense of democracy, the rule of law, and free and
fair elections in Russia, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:
H. Con. Res. 27
Whereas, on April 11, 2022, Vladimir Kara-Murza was
unjustly detained by Russian authorities for spreading
supposedly ``false information'' in a speech in March 2022 to
the Arizona House of Representatives;
Whereas Mr. Kara-Murza in his March 15, 2022, speech
presented a defiant condemnation of Vladimir Putin's policies
and leadership outlining his corruption and malign
intentions, and condemning the illegal war of aggression
Putin has unleashed against Ukraine;
Whereas, prior to his arrest in April 2022, Mr. Kara-Murza
was poisoned twice by agents of the Russian Government and
the Russian Federation in 2015 and 2017 with a military-grade
agent banned internationally, likely in retaliation for his
defiant stance in support of rule of law and democracy in
Russia;
Whereas, despite having survived two assassination attempts
and the subsequent side effects of these poisonings, Mr.
Kara-Murza regularly returned to Russia to advocate for
democratic representation in Russia;
Whereas Mr. Kara-Murza has consistently advocated for
democracy in Russia and insisted that democracy in Russia
must be advanced by Russians for all those living in Russia;
Whereas, in August 2022, new charges were brought against
Mr. Kara-Murza for ``carrying out the activities'' of an
``undesirable foreign organization'' and his arrest was
extended for his work as a leading member of Russian civil
society;
Whereas, in October 2022, Mr. Kara-Murza was further
charged unjustly with ``high treason'' in part due to his
public condemnations of the Kremlin's military aggression on
Ukraine and domestic repressions;
Whereas, in April 2023, Mr. Kara-Murza was unjustly
sentenced to 25 years in prison;
Whereas the state of Mr. Kara-Murza's health has
deteriorated and in addition to losing over 45 pounds, he was
diagnosed with polyneuropathy, a condition that under Russian
law should have precluded him from detainment;
Whereas, as a result of his diagnosis, he has lost feeling
in both his feet and has experienced symptoms similar to
those he experienced following his 2015 poisoning due to
peripheral nerve damage;
Whereas section 5599F of the James M. Inhofe National
Defense Authorization Act
[[Page H3700]]
for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117-263) condemned Mr. Kara-
Murza's unjust detention, expressed solidarity with Mr. Kara-
Murza, his family, and all individuals imprisoned in Russia
for their beliefs, and urged the United States and other ally
governments to work to secure the release of Mr. Kara-Murza
and other citizens of the Russian Federation imprisoned for
opposition to Vladimir Putin's regime and his illegal war in
Ukraine;
Whereas, in April 2022, Vladimir Kara-Murza was presented
the McCain Institute's Courage and Leadership Award for his
unwavering commitment to fundamental values and his acts of
selfless courage which have inspired the world;
Whereas, in October 2022, Mr. Kara-Murza was awarded the
Vaclav Havel Prize honoring outstanding civil society action
in defense of human rights;
Whereas the late Senator John McCain said Mr. Kara-Murza
``is a brave, outspoken, and relentless advocate for freedom
and democracy in Russia'' and introduced Mr. Kara-Murza as
``a personal hero whose courage, selflessness, and idealism I
find awe-inspiring'';
Whereas, in March 2023, the Department of the Treasury and
the Department of State imposed Global Magnitsky and other
targeted sanctions on six Russians involved in Mr. Kara-
Murza's ongoing arbitrary detention, recognized his role as
``a major advocate for the adoption of Magnitsky-style
sanctions authorities by the United States, Canada, European
Union, and United Kingdom to target human rights abusers and
corrupt actors in Russia'', and called for his immediate
release; and
Whereas Mr. Kara-Murza remains a political prisoner and a
victim of Vladimir Putin's authoritarian state: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That Congress--
(1) condemns in the strongest possible terms the unjust and
arbitrary detention of Russian democratic opposition leader
Vladimir Kara-Murza;
(2) calls on the Russian Federation to immediately release
Mr. Kara-Murza and all other Russian opposition leaders who
are detained as a result of their opposition to the Putin
regime;
(3) calls on all Russian citizens to outright condemn
Russia's illegal and unjust invasion of Ukraine in the spirit
of Mr. Kara-Murza's defiant opposition stance in front of the
Arizona House of Representatives in March 2022;
(4) expresses solidarity and calls for the release of all
political prisoners in Russia and Belarus, including
Ukrainian citizens illegally held as prisoners by Putin's
regime in violation of the rule of law as a result of their
support for liberal democratic values, Radio Free Europe/
Radio Liberty journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, and wrongfully-
detained Americans Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich;
(5) calls on the United States Government to designate Mr.
Kara-Murza, as well as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, as wrongfully detained under the
Levinson Act; and
(6) calls on the President of the United States and leaders
from across the free world to work tirelessly for the release
of political prisoners in Russia and increase support for
those advocating for democracy in Russia as well as
independent media and civil society which Mr. Kara-Murza has
worked to further.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. McCaul) and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Keating)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
General Leave
Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
include extraneous material on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, Vladimir Kara-Murza has been locked away in Putin's
gulags for over 2 years. His only crime was standing up for human
rights and democracy in Russia, for speaking out against Putin's
genocidal war of aggression against Ukraine.
He is a lawful American permanent resident, and his wife and children
are American citizens.
We should all be deeply concerned by his unjust imprisonment.
Mr. Kara-Murza is well known for his work exposing the Kremlin's
corruption and fighting for a free and democratic Russia.
Despite two assassination attempts which nearly killed him and left
him with permanent side effects that linger to this day, Mr. Kara-Murza
has continued his brave work undeterred.
He understands the importance of exposing Putin and his cronies for
who they really are to the world.
After Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Mr. Kara-Murza
immediately began shining a light on Russia's atrocities.
Like many of us in this Chamber, he knew he could not be silent as
Russian forces raped and murdered their way through Ukraine.
In response, the Kremlin alleged that he was spreading false
information about the Russian military.
In April 2022, Mr. Kara-Murza briefly and bravely returned to Russia
to advocate against the war to his fellow Russians and was promptly
arrested.
That is what happens when you contradict the regime's narrative in a
totalitarian state. Mr. Kara-Murza knew the risk, but he returned
anyway.
Since his arrest, he has languished in harsh prison conditions
without adequate access to medical care.
Last year, the Kremlin sentenced him to 25 years in prison. Due to
his lingering side effects from two assassination attempts, as well as
the awful conditions in Putin's gulags, this is effectively a death
sentence.
Unfortunately, Mr. Kara-Murza is just one of many political prisoners
in Russia.
American journalists like Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva and
wrongfully imprisoned Marine Corps veteran Paul Whelan have all been
detained by Putin's regime on bogus charges. They deserve our
attention, and I call for their immediate release in addition to Mr.
Kara-Murza's.
America must hold Russia to account for their continued aggression
and war crimes against humanity. We need to do everything in our power
to secure Mr. Kara-Murza's release as well as the release of every
unjustly detained American overseas.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise today in strong support of my resolution condemning Russia's
unjust and arbitrary detention of Russian opposition leader, Vladimir
Kara-Murza, who has stood up in the defense of democracy, the rule of
law, and free and fair elections in Russia. This resolution comes at a
significant time, as Vladimir Putin continues his unjust war of
aggression against Ukraine and reprehensible crackdown on the Russian
democratic opposition both at home and abroad.
First, I would like to thank my colleagues who have cosponsored this
resolution and shown support for Vladimir Kara-Murza as he remains
wrongfully detained in a Russian prison. This includes Representatives
Tom Kean, Steve Cohen, and Joe Wilson.
I would also like to express my gratitude to the leadership of the
committee, Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Meeks, and the entire
Foreign Affairs Committee for their support of this resolution. I know
the issue of political prisoners is a serious concern to the entire
committee, and this resolution brings much to bear on the
demonstrations of bipartisan support for standing in solidarity with
Vladimir Kara-Murza and the thousands of political prisoners in Russia,
Belarus, and around the world.
This resolution strongly condemns the wrongful detention of Vladimir
Kara-Murza, and it calls for his immediate release. Vladimir is a
champion of justice who fought tirelessly for democracy in Russia by
Russians and for Russians. He did this for decades. As we have
witnessed Vladimir Putin wage his war of aggression in Ukraine and the
crackdown on free expression at home, in that context, Vladimir Kara-
Murza stands out as a free and independent voice of truth exposing the
Kremlin's lies and oppression.
During President Biden's State of the Union Address earlier this
year, I had the honor of being joined by prodemocracy activist Evgenia
Kara-Murza, Vladimir's wife, as my guest. Evgenia's resolve and courage
was clear, and the stories she told me about Vladimir as well as her
own personal courage only reaffirmed my commitment to advocate for his
immediate release.
In a March 2022 speech before the Arizona House of Representatives,
Vladimir Kara-Murza presented a defiant condemnation of Vladimir
Putin's malign policies and corrupt leadership. Following this brave
speech, Vladimir returned to Russia defiantly to continue his work to
achieve democracy in Russia. He was subsequently arrested and
wrongfully charged for speaking the truth.
[[Page H3701]]
Well ahead of his speech before the Arizona House of Representatives,
the Kremlin targeted Vladimir for his resistance and opposition. In
fact, in 2015, and again in 2017, he survived two assassination
attempts where agents of the Russian Government attacked him. They
attacked him with a military-grade poison.
Despite the threats against his life and his 2022 detention, Vladimir
Kara-Murza continues to speak out from prison against the repression he
and so many other Russians suffer for calling out Vladimir Putin's
authoritarian actions and his illegal war of aggression against
Ukraine.
Unfortunately, Vladimir Kara-Murza is not the only individual
wrongfully detained in Russia. Paul Whelan, whose sister is a
constituent and a tireless advocate on his behalf, has sat in a Russian
prison cell for over 5 years as the Kremlin plays politics with his
life. Journalist Evan Gershkovich was imprisoned over a year ago simply
for doing his job. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reporter Alsu
Kurmasheva continues to make her way through a sham trial today.
It is simple. Journalism is not a crime, and this resolution stands
in solidarity with all those wrongfully detained in Russia and Belarus
for speaking the truth and calls for their immediate release.
At the same time, remember those like Alexei Navalny, Boris Nemtsov,
Sergei Magnitsky, and many others who have died at the hands of the
Kremlin and Vladimir Putin's regime.
Ultimately, this resolution represents a strong, bipartisan show of
support for Vladimir Kara-Murza and a redoubling of efforts to seek his
immediate release.
I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close after the gentleman
from Massachusetts closes, and I reserve the balance of my time
Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
In closing, I again reflect on Vladimir Kara-Murza's work to achieve
a true democracy in Russia, one made by Russians and built for
Russians. In the face of death threats and physical attacks on his own
well-being, Vladimir Kara-Murza remains a prominent figure in Russia's
democracy movement. He has stood up for the truth, speaking against
Vladimir Putin's war of aggression against Ukraine and the Kremlin's
comprehensive crackdown on free expression.
As I have said before, Vladimir's story is not only one of defiance
but one of Kremlin weakness. His story, his words, and his vision
terrify and threaten the Putin regime, and they undermine the
fictitious Kremlin narrative regarding Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
That fact shows the true strength of Mr. Kara-Murza's moral conviction.
Finally, as this resolution makes its way through the House, we call
on the Russian Government to immediately release Mr. Kara-Murza and all
other Russian opposition leaders detained because of their opposition
to the Putin regime.
At the same time, wrongfully detained Americans like Paul Whelan,
Evan Gershkovich, and Alsu Kurmasheva must also be released. Journalism
is not a crime, and we will not rest until all wrongfully detained
Americans have returned home. We want them to return home as soon as
possible.
I thank the Foreign Affairs Committee again for considering this
resolution and the bipartisan cosponsors who have made the resolution
possible. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
I thank my good friend, Mr. Keating, for authoring this important
resolution that was unanimously adopted by the Foreign Affairs
Committee by a vote of 47-0.
We all know that Vladimir Putin is a dictator. He uses fear to hold
on to power. Anyone that criticizes or questions him is imprisoned,
silenced, or killed.
Putin knows if free speech and dissent spreads, if the truth comes to
light, that his despotic regime will lose its grip on power and on the
Russian people.
We all know he killed Alexei Navalny. Putin saw him as a threat to
his regime. Like Navalny, Vladimir Kara-Murza represents resistance to
the Kremlin's unchecked oppression, and that is why Putin has
imprisoned him, because he is a champion for freedom.
The vengeance of the Kremlin knows no bounds. Putin must stop using
Cold War tactics to target innocent people as diplomatic pawns. I call
upon the immediate release of all Americans detained abroad.
It is time to get Mr. Kara-Murza out of a Russian gulag and back home
to his family. I urge my colleagues to stand united and join me in
condemning Russia's illegal detention.
This will send a strong message to Mr. Kara-Murza and to all
wrongfully detained Americans in Russia that Congress will not rest
until they are returned home to their families.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
{time} 1700
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H. Con. Res. 27, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________