H6084 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 3, 2020 (2) condemns the activities of Russian na- calls for the imposition of additional exposes the truth about the Kremlin’s tional Yevgeniy Prigozhin and his affiliated targeted sanctions. ridiculous claim that Mr. Prigozhin entities that pose a threat to the democratic As Putin and his henchmen, like and the Wagner Group operate inde- values, democratic institutions, and security Prigozhin, continue their attacks on pendently. of the United States and its allies and part- ners; democracies across the world, Congress Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to (3) urges countries and entities engaging must send a strong, unified message support this resolution’s passage, and I with Yevgeniy Prigozhin and his affiliated that we will not tolerate their desta- yield back the balance of my time. entities in business or advisory capacities to bilizing actions and that we are ready Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield my- cease these engagements; to hold them accountable. Passing this self as much time as I may consume for (4) supports the additional designations resolution does just that. the purpose of closing. made by the Department of the Treasury on Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this Mr. Speaker, Yevgeniy Prigozhin is September 23, 2020, and by the European measure, urge all my colleagues to do an enemy of democracy and an adver- Union on October 15, 2020, and calls on the the same, and I reserve the balance of sary of the U.S. and our allies. United States Government and the European From sowing discord and division Union to continue to target the ability of my time. Yevgeniy Prigozhin and his affiliated enti- Mr. MCCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield through disinformation campaigns to ties to conduct operations globally and to myself such time as I may consume. stoking violent conflicts around the interfere in the democratic processes of the Mr. Speaker, Yevgeniy Prigozhin is world, Prigozhin is a dangerous Putin United States and its allies and partners; one of the most destructive operators crony. and within Vladimir Putin’s corrupt re- This bipartisan measure condemns (5) calls for close coordination between the gime. The destabilizing activity that Prigozhin’s nefarious activities and United States Government and the govern- he has directed and financed can be felt demonstrates Congress’ support for ments of United States allies and partners to throughout the world. continued cooperation between the ensure that sanctions regimes against United States and our European allies Yevgeniy Prigozhin and his affiliated enti- Mr. Prigozhin bankrolls the Russian ties are enforced and coordinated. Wagner Group, whose mercenaries have to hold him and his Kremlin partners The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- fanned the deadly flames of conflicts, accountable. ant to the rule, the gentleman from propped up dictatorships, committed Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues New York (Mr. ENGEL) and the gen- gruesome human rights abuses, all at will join me in supporting its passage, tleman from Texas (Mr. MCCAUL) each the Kremlin’s direction. and I yield back the balance of my will control 20 minutes. In Ukraine, the Wagner Group sup- time. The Chair recognizes the gentleman ported Russia’s illegal annexation of The SPEAKER pro tempore. The from New York. Crimea and the pro-Russian separatists question is on the motion offered by in the country’s east. They have pro- the gentleman from New York (Mr. 1615 b vided military support to the mur- ENGEL) that the House suspend the GENERAL LEAVE derous Bashar al-Assad regime, and rules and agree to the resolution, H. Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unan- they even led an assault against U.S. Res. 996, as amended. imous consent that all Members may troops in Syria in 2018. The question was taken; and (two- have 5 legislative days in which to re- In Libya, Russia has jeopardized ef- thirds being in the affirmative) the vise and extend their remarks and in- forts to bring peace to the country by rules were suspended and the resolu- clude extraneous material on H. Res. supporting Haftar, as well as by send- tion, as amended, was agreed to. 996. ing advanced Russian aircraft and A motion to reconsider was laid on The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there thousands of mercenaries from the the table. objection to the request of the gen- Wagner Group into the country. f tleman from New York? The Wagner Group is also actively CONDEMNING POLITICALLY MOTI- There was no objection. meddling in the domestic politics of VATED IMPRISONMENT AND Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield my- numerous African countries. There, CALLING FOR IMMEDIATE RE- self such time as I may consume. they hope to expand Russian influence LEASE OF POLITICAL PRIS- Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my col- on the continent while also exploiting ONERS IN RUSSIAN FEDERATION leagues on both sides of the aisle for Africa’s natural resources for their own Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I move to joining me to introduce this measure profit. suspend the rules and agree to the reso- condemning one of the principal archi- The United States is not immune lution (H. Res. 958) condemning the tects of Russian aggression around the from the threat posed by the Wagner practice of politically motivated im- world. Yevgeniy Prigozhin is one of Group. Mr. Prigozhin financed the prisonment and calling for the imme- Vladimir Putin’s key cronies, with a Internet Research Agency, a Russian diate release of political prisoners in long history of working against Amer- troll farm that has attempted to inter- the Russian Federation and urging ac- ican interests on behalf of the Russian fere in the United States elections and tion by the United States Government Government. His Internet Research sow discord among the American peo- to impose sanctions with respect to Agency disinformation campaigns have ple. worked to sow division and undermine Let me be clear. Mr. Prigozhin is a persons responsible for that form of democratic elections right here at direct threat to the United States. We human rights abuse, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the resolu- home and also among our allies. cannot allow this behavior to go un- tion. Yevgeniy Prigozhin is also the leader checked. The United States has re- The text of the resolution is as fol- of the Wagner Group, a Russian merce- sponded forcefully, sanctioning him, lows: nary organization, that has spread the Wagner Group, the Internet Re- H. RES. 958 deadly conflict across the globe, engag- search Agency, and many more of Mr. ing in violent and subversive oper- Prigozhin’s front companies and affili- Whereas the right to liberty and security ations in Ukraine, Syria, Libya, and of a person and the protection from arbitrary ates. imprisonment are among the principal sub-Saharan Africa. He has directed In October, I was glad to see the EU human rights guaranteed by Article 9 of the human rights violations in Syria, un- join the United States in sanctioning International Covenant on Civil and Polit- dermined U.S. operations in the Middle Mr. Prigozhin as well. ical Rights, Article 23 of the Concluding Doc- East, and played a key role in invading However, we must keep up the pres- ument of the Vienna Meeting of the Con- and destabilizing Ukraine. sure. That is why I support the resolu- ference on Security and Cooperation in Eu- We must hold Prigozhin accountable tion before us today. It condemns Mr. rope, and Article 5 of the European Conven- and take action to stop his nefarious Prigozhin’s corrupt activity, and it tion on Human Rights; activities. This resolution condemns sends a direct message to the Kremlin Whereas the Russian Federation, as mem- ber of the United Nations, the Organization Prigozhin and his Kremlin partners, ex- that the United States Congress will for Security and Cooperation in Europe presses strong support for the U.S. and continue to hold Mr. Prigozhin ac- (OSCE), and the Council of Europe, is bound European Union sanctions on him, countable for his efforts to further the by international commitments with regard which were announced this fall, and Putin regime’s malign agenda. It also to human rights and the rule of law;

VerDate Sep 11 2014 12:28 Dec 04, 2020 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A03DE7.063 H03DEPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE December 3, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6085 Whereas, on October 3, 2012, the Parliamen- silence critics and deny fundamental human clude extraneous material on H. Res. tary Assembly of the Council of Europe rights’’; 958. adopted Resolution 1900 (2012) which defined Whereas, on August 6, 2020, a court in Mos- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there anyone whose ‘‘detention has been imposed cow sentenced seven activists to between objection to the request of the gen- in violation of one of the fundamental guar- four years suspended and sevem years in antees set out in the European Convention prison for participating in an alleged ex- tleman from New York? on Human Rights and its Protocols’’ and ‘‘is tremist organization, ‘‘The New Greatness’’, There was no objection. the result of proceedings which were clearly after an investigation marked by the use of Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield my- unfair and . . . appears to be connected with provocateurs, torture, ill-treatment, and self such time as I may consume. political motives of the authorities’’ as a po- forced confessions, in what the Memorial Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support litical prisoner; Human Rights Center and the Moscow Hel- of H. Res. 958, which condemns politi- Whereas based on the criteria of the Par- sinki Group have described as a ‘‘politically cally motivated imprisonment by the liamentary Assembly of the Council of Eu- motivated case’’ aimed at ‘‘suppressing the Russian Government and calls for the rope Resolution 1900 (2012), the Memorial freedom of expression’’; immediate release of all political pris- Human Rights Center, a Russian nongovern- Whereas, on June 18, 2019, the Department mental organization, estimates that there of State affirmed that ‘‘the United States is oners in Russia. are currently more than 300 political pris- deeply concerned by the growing number of According to the Memorial Human oners in the Russian Federation, a six-fold individuals . . . identified by credible human Rights Center, there are more than 300 increase since 2015; rights organizations as political and reli- political prisoners in Russia today. Whereas the Memorial Human Rights Cen- gious prisoners held by the Government of These prisoners are human rights advo- ter list of Russian political prisoners in- the Russian Federation’’ and called on the cates, journalists, Ukrainians from Cri- cludes journalists, civil society activists, Government of the Russian Federation ‘‘to human rights advocates, participants of mea, and American citizens like Paul release all those identified as political or re- Whelan and Trevor Reed. peaceful organizations, and Ukrainian citi- ligious prisoners immediately and cease its zens from illegally annexed Crimea; use of the legal system to suppress dissent It has been common practice for the Whereas the Russian Federation’s longest- and peaceful religious practice’’; Kremlin to target opposition figures as detained political prisoner, Alexey Pichugin, Whereas, on January 28, 2020, 43 parliamen- an act of political revenge. Russian au- has been incarcerated since June 19, 2003, in tarians from 16 European countries intro- thorities regularly abuse counterter- violation of two rulings by the European duced a Resolution in the Parliamentary As- rorism laws and Interpol’s Red Notice Court of Human Rights and the opinion by sembly of the Council of Europe to appoint a system to silence critics and deny the United Nations Working Group on Arbi- rapporteur ‘‘to examine the growing crisis them fundamental human rights. trary Detention; with politically motivated imprisonments in Whereas investigative journalist and We must not only condemn these the Russian Federation’’; and abuses, but we must increase the eco- former editor of the independent newspaper Whereas, on June 29, 2020, the Parliamen- Noviye Kolyosa, Igor Rudnikov was held in tary Assembly of the Council of Europe’s nomic and political cost for Russian of- pretrial detention from November 1, 2017, Legal Affairs Committee appointed Icelandic ficials who engage in unjust until June 17, 2019, on alleged extortion lawmaker Thorhildur Sunna Aevarsdottir to imprisonments and political retalia- charges, which were later dropped by the serve as the rapporteur on political prisoners tion. court; in Russia: Now, therefore, be it This resolution calls on the Depart- Whereas Igor Rudnikov’s detention and Resolved, That the House of Representa- charges were criticized by the OSCE Rep- ments of State and Treasury to use the tives— Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Ac- resentative on Freedom of the Media and Re- (1) condemns the practice of politically porters without Borders, calling them motivated imprisonment in the Russian Fed- countability Act of 2012 and the Global ‘‘clearly trumped-up’’ and ‘‘an act of polit- eration that violates the country’s inter- Magnitsky Human Rights Account- ical revenge’’, respectively; national obligations on human rights and ability Act to pursue Russia officials Whereas opposition activist Konstantin the rule of law and expresses its solidarity who are responsible for or complicit in Kotov was sentenced to 1.5 years imprison- with all those unjustly imprisoned in the politically motivated imprisonment. I ment on April 20, 2020, for participating in Russian Federation; peaceful demonstrations, in a ruling Am- remember in 2012, we all worked to- (2) calls on the Government of the Russian nesty International has described as ‘‘a pro- gether to put this very important law Federation to immediately release individ- found injustice’’; on the books. uals designated by the Memorial Human Whereas Anastasia Shevchenko, an activ- Rights Center as political prisoners under No one deserves to be used as a polit- ist in the Open Russia movement, has been the criteria of the Parliamentary Assembly ical pawn by Vladimir Putin. It is crit- held under house arrest since January 23, of the Council of Europe Resolution 1900 ical that Congress strongly condemns 2019, on the charge of belonging to an ‘‘unde- (2012), including Alexey Pichugin, and takes action against Russia’s sirable’’ organization and has been des- Konstantin Kotov, Anastasia Shevchenko, ignated by Amnesty International as a pris- wrongful imprisonments. oner of conscience; Yuri Dmitriev, and Dennis Christensen; Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to Whereas Yuri Dmitriev, a leader of Memo- (3) urges the United States Government, in support this measure, and I reserve the rial Society’s branch in the Republic of all its interactions with the Government of balance of my time. the Russian Federation, to raise individual Karelia region of the Russian Federation Mr. MCCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield cases of Russian political prisoners and advo- who has worked to document mass burial myself such time as I may consume. sites from Stalin-era executions, has been cate for their release; and (4) calls on the Secretary of State and the Mr. Speaker, I have said many times held in detention since June 28, 2018, on that Vladimir Putin is not our friend. charges of child pornography that Human Secretary of the Treasury to use their au- Rights Watch has described as ‘‘bogus’’ and thority under the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Under his command, the Russian Gov- part of an ongoing ‘‘smear campaign’’, and Law Accountability Act of 2012 (title IV of ernment has invaded Georgia, started a was sentenced to 13 years in prison on Sep- Public Law 112–208), the Global Magnitsky war with Ukraine, assisted Bashar al- tember 29, 2020; Human Rights Accountability Act (subtitle Assad’s murderous campaign in Syria, Whereas Dennis Christensen, a Jehovah’s F of title XII of Public Law 114–328), and and meddled in our elections. other applicable United States statutory au- Witness and a Danish citizen, was sentenced But he is not just a threat to inter- to 6 years’ imprisonment on February 6, 2019, thorities to designate officials of the Govern- ment of the Russian Federation who are re- national security. Vladimir Putin is an in a decision condemned by the United enemy of democracy. We know this by States Commission on International Reli- sponsible for human rights abuses in the gious Freedom as part of the broader pattern form of politically motivated imprisonment. his brutal actions that he has taken of the Russian Government ‘‘engaging in or The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- against his own people. tolerating severe violations of religious free- ant to the rule, the gentleman from Over the last 20 years, under Putin’s dom’’; New York (Mr. ENGEL) and the gen- control, Moscow has chipped away at Whereas, on February 10, 2020, 7 activists tleman from Texas (Mr. MCCAUL) each the few political freedoms once enjoyed from Russia’s Penza Oblast were sentenced will control 20 minutes. in Russia. Media outlets have been to terms of 6 to 18 years for alleged member- The Chair recognizes the gentleman shut down; political parties have been ship in a terrorist group following a deten- from New York. attacked; opposition figures have been tion marked by torture, ill-treatment to ex- GENERAL LEAVE assassinated; and activists have been tract confessions, and periods held incommu- nicado; Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unan- thrown in jail. Whereas Human Rights Watch described imous consent that all Members may This is not the future that so many the case as an example of the Russian au- have 5 legislative days in which to re- in Russia had hoped for when the Iron thorities ‘‘abusing counterterrorism laws to vise and extend their remarks and in- Curtain was lifted. Now, hundreds of

VerDate Sep 11 2014 12:28 Dec 04, 2020 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A03DE7.064 H03DEPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE H6086 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 3, 2020 political prisoners occupy cells in Rus- tisan resolution, H. Res. 958, ‘‘Condemning international commitments, including the incar- sian jails. They aren’t there because the practice of politically motivated imprison- ceration of political prisoners, occur. they are bad people. They aren’t there ment and calling for the immediate release of It is our responsibility as Members of Con- because they are real criminals. They political prisoners in the Russian Federation gress to pass this resolution today in order to are there because Vladimir Putin is and urging action by the United States Gov- urge the Russian Federation to release its po- afraid of them. He doesn’t want them ernment to impose sanctions with respect to litical prisoners and respect the basic human to challenge his authority. He doesn’t persons responsible for that form of human rights of its citizens. want them to have a voice. rights abuse.’’ I urge all Members on both sides of the Today, we have a chance to provide a For years, Russia’s human rights record has aisle to join me in voting for H. Res. 958, voice for the people Putin has tried to continued to deteriorate, with the rights to ‘‘Condemning the practice of politically moti- silence. This resolution condemns the freedom of expression, association, and vated imprisonment and calling for the imme- practice of jailing individuals for polit- peaceful assembly consistently restricted, both diate release of political prisoners in the Rus- ical purposes and calls for the release by law and in practice. sian Federation and urging action by the of all political prisoners in Russia. It Most often, the people who are courageous United States Government to impose sanc- also urges the administration to im- enough to attempt exercising their most basic tions with respect to persons responsible for pose sanctions on Russian officials who human rights, including freedom of the press that form of human rights abuse.’’ are complicit in human rights abuses. and freedom of speech, face reprisals, ranging The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Once again, I want to thank my good from harassment to police ill-treatment, arbi- question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. friend, Chairman ENGEL, for intro- trary arrest, heavy fines, and, in some cases, ducing this bill. He has been a great criminal prosecution and imprisonment. ENGEL) that the House suspend the champion for victims of tyranny his Among the Kremlin’s political prisoners are rules and agree to the resolution, H. entire career. I am grateful for all of journalists, opposition activists, peaceful pro- Res. 958, as amended. The question was taken; and (two- his hard work. testers, adherents of ‘‘prohibited’’ religious thirds being in the affirmative) the Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to groups, such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, as well rules were suspended and the resolu- support this resolution, and I yield as members of ‘‘undesirable’’ political organi- tion, as amended, was agreed to. back the balance of my time. zations like Open Russia, an organization that A motion to reconsider was laid on Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield my- has done a lot to support victims of human the table. self such time as I may consume for rights violations in Russia. the purpose of closing. In fact, several human rights defenders and f Mr. Speaker, first, I want to thank NGOs have been targeted within Russia under EXPRESSING CONCERN OVER my friend, the ranking member of the the laws on ‘‘foreign agents’’ and ‘‘undesirable DETENTION OF AUSTIN TICE Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. organizations’’. Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I move to MCCAUL. It has been a pleasure work- Mr. Speaker, this resolution seeks to do suspend the rules and agree to the reso- ing closely with him on so many pieces three things: lution (H. Res. 17) expressing concern of legislation. I know that the work Condemn the practice of politically moti- over the detention of Austin Tice, and will continue, and we will continue to vated imprisonment by the Russian govern- for other purposes, as amended. keep in touch and make sure that we ment, particularly under the leadership of The Clerk read the title of the resolu- go the right way in trying to stop these President Vladimir Putin; tion. human rights abuses all over the world. Call for the immediate release of those des- The text of the resolution is as fol- The number of political prisoners in ignated as political prisoners in the Russian lows: Russia has increased by sixfold since Federation; and H. RES. 17 the year 2015. This is what we have Urge the current Administration to impose Whereas Austin Tice is a 39-year-old vet- come to expect from Vladimir Putin’s sanctions on those responsible for these eran, having served in the Marine Corps as Russia: Blatant disregard for human human rights abuses using the Sergei an infantry officer, a Georgetown law stu- rights and rule of law. Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act, the dent, and a graduate of Georgetown Univer- The United States must stand firm Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability sity, from Houston, Texas; against Russia’s practice of politically Act, or other authorities. Whereas Austin is an Eagle Scout, Na- motivated imprisonment and impose By passing this resolution today, we are tional Merit Scholarship finalist, and eldest sanctions against anyone responsible of seven children; sending a bipartisan message to the Russian Whereas Austin was a contributing free- for these human rights abuses. It is Government that we see the violations of lance journalist to McClatchy Newspapers, really important that the U.S. Con- human rights that are occurring, and we will the Washington Post and other media out- gress stand up and do this. It is really not stand idly by while people who are fighting lets, and a recipient of the 2012 George Polk important that we do it, regardless of for progress are tortured and ill-treated. Award for War Reporting; political party. Furthermore, counter-terrorism provisions Whereas, in May 2012, Austin crossed the It is really important to send Putin a are widely used to target dissent across the Turkey-Syria border to report on the inten- message that we are not going to sit country and in Crimea, and torture tactics re- sifying conflict in Syria; idly by and allow him to do his bad Whereas, on August 11, 2012, Austin cele- main pervasive, as does impunity for its per- brated his 31st birthday in Darayaa, Syria; work. He has interfered with our elec- petrators. Whereas, on August 14, 2012, Austin de- tions. He has tried again. He succeeded Last year, due to the growing disconnect parted for Beirut, Lebanon, was detained at some of the time; he didn’t succeed in between the authorities and general public, a checkpoint near Damascus, Syria, and con- other times. But we want him to stay there was an increase in street protests, rang- tact with family, friends, and colleagues away, and we want the people of Russia ing from political to economic to social and ceased; to have a government where they can even to environmental issues. Whereas, in late September 2012, a video feel free, not one where they feel the In July and August of 2019, more than clip appeared on YouTube showing Austin boot on their neck all the time. 2,600 people were arrested during protests in blindfolded and being prodded up a hillside by masked militants; We need to stand firm against Rus- Moscow, which had remained peaceful until Whereas in the years since Austin’s dis- sia’s practice of politically motivated the police and National Guard officers forcibly appearance, no group has claimed responsi- imprisonment and impose sanctions intervened. bility for his capture; against anyone, even Putin, respon- According to Amnesty International, there Whereas the Syrian government has never sible for these human rights abuses. were numerous reports of arbitrary arrest, use acknowledged detaining Austin and has de- Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to sup- of excessive, as well as indiscriminate force nied the same to Austin’s parents; port H. Res. 958, and I yield back the and ill-treatment of protesters by the officers, Whereas officials of the United States be- balance of my time. but none of these cases were known to have lieve Austin is alive and being held in Syria and that the Syrian government should as- Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a been investigated. sist in locating and returning Austin to his member of the Tom Lantos Commission for As a fierce defender of human rights and family; Human Rights and a former member of the the world’s oldest democracy, the United Whereas Austin Tice’s parents, Marc and Commission on Security and Cooperation in States has a duty to the world to speak up in Debra Tice, have been diligent in their ef- Europe, I rise in strong support of this bipar- the face of injustice and when violations of forts to find their son, repeatedly meeting

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