[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5110]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT YANUKOVYCH'S DECISION TO PARDON 
   FORMER INTERIOR MINISTER LUTSENKO AND FORMER ENVIRONMENT MINISTER 
                               FILIPCHUK

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM R. KEATING

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 11, 2013

  Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in my capacity as the Ranking 
Member of the Europe, Eurasia and Emerging Threats subcommittee to 
recognize the decision of Ukrainian President Yanukovych to pardon 
former Interior Minister Lutsenko and former Environment Minister 
Filipchuk. This is a notable step toward bringing Ukraine closer to a 
path that espouses the democratic values that the Ukrainian people have 
fought so long and hard to receive and maintain. The path toward 
democracy is not an easy one, and my hope is that we will be hearing 
more bright news from Ukraine in the near future. Of particular concern 
is the continued imprisonment of former Prime Minister Yulia 
Tymoshenko. I hope that Ukraine will fulfill its commitment to a 
democratic future for its people and secure her release, as well.

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