February 24, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE 1549 There is no limit to what TRIO par- spite the best efforts of the hardline yearning for change, as witnessed by ticipants can accomplish. Program clerical institutions to disqualify and the vote this week—including their graduates have become successful in intimidate popular candidates, the Ira- peaceful yet brutalized Baha’is commu- all spheres of society and have gone on nian people had the courage of their nity. I ask for their freedom to express to enjoy careers as doctors, lawyers, convictions. They want economic liber- their faith as they see fit. astronauts, television reporters, ac- alization, they want freedom of the Our resolution is in addition to the tors, state politicians and Members of press, and they want personal liberty. bill that passed earlier today. It con- Congress, to list a few. Indeed, two of We in the United States obviously gratulates the Iranian people and says: our colleagues in the House of Rep- share those convictions and are obvi- Let’s take other steps forward. No resentatives, Representative HENRY ously heartened by what took place at weapons of mass destruction. But, also, BONILLA and Representative ALBERT R. the polls this week in Iran. It should be let’s recognize religious freedom, as in WYNN are graduates of the TRIO Pro- noted and applauded, and this resolu- the Universal Declaration of Human grams. tion does just that. Rights, which the Iranian Government I have long supported TRIO and will We say to the Iranian people: Con- has signed on to. continue to push for increased funding gratulations. Thank you. This is a good Mr. President, I ask unanimous con- for these important programs. I am step in moving forward. At the same sent that the resolution, S. Con. Res. proud to celebrate National TRIO Day time, we want to say we will not tol- 83, be agreed to, the preamble be agreed and call much deserved attention to erate weapons of mass destruction and to, the motion to reconsider be laid these vital programs. I also encourage the means of delivering these weapons. upon the table, and that any state- my colleagues to visit the TRIO Pro- We want to send those clear signals. ments related to the concurrent resolu- grams in their states and learn for There is another thing which is going tion be printed in the RECORD. themselves how successful these pro- on in Iran. Earlier today, I had a press The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without grams are for our Nation’s students.∑ conference with several other people objection, it is so ordered. f about three men—Sirus Zabihi- The resolution (S. Con. Res. 83) was Moghaddam, Hedayat Kashefi- agreed to. THE CALENDAR Najafabadi, and Manuchehr Khulusi— The preamble was agreed to. Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I three Baha’is who are on death row in The resolution, with its preamble, have a series of unanimous consent re- prison facing imminent execution for reads as follows: quests to put in front of the Senate as the simple reason of practicing their S. CON. RES. 83 we proceed to close down the Senate faith. That is it. They are on death row Whereas the Islamic Republic of Iran held this evening. facing imminent death for daring to parliamentary elections on February 18, 2000; f practice their faith. Whereas more than 75 percent of the ap- This cannot be tolerated. There are proximately 39,000,000 eligible voters cast COMMENDING THE PEOPLE OF nearly 300,000 Baha’is in Iran. It is the ballots in the elections; IRAN largest religious minority in the coun- Whereas preliminary results indicate that Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I try. They have suffered continuous per- reformers have won a parliamentary major- ity, freeing Iran’s parliament, the Majlis, of ask unanimous consent that the Sen- secution for their peaceful beliefs. I re- ate proceed to the immediate consider- hard-line domination for the first time since mind the Iranian people who have the 1979 Iranian revolution; ation of S. Con. Res. 83 submitted by voted for freedom this week that this is Whereas reformers won elections despite myself and Senator WELLSTONE. part of it. This is also something they concerted efforts by hard-line Iranian clergy The PRESIDING OFFICER. The have signed on to. to ban reformist forces from the ballot; and clerk will report the concurrent resolu- Nearly 50 years ago, the General As- Whereas the elections show a clear pref- tion by title. sembly of the United Nations—of which erence by a majority of Iranian voters for de- The assistant legislative clerk read Iran is a member—adopted the Uni- mocracy, rule of law, and improved relations as follows: with Western nations: Now, therefore, be it versal Declaration of Human Rights. Resolved by the Senate (the House of Rep- A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 83) Since that time, this Universal Dec- resentatives concurring), That Congress— commending the people of Iran for their laration has become the bedrock docu- (1) commends the people of Iran for their commitment to the democratic process and ment for human rights. However, the commitment to the democratic process; positive political reform on the occasion of Iranian Government continues to be an (2) congratulates reformist parliamentar- Iran’s parliamentary elections. egregious violator. ians on their recent electoral victory; There being no objection, the Senate I wish to read one portion of this doc- (3) reaffirms the desire of the United proceeded to consider the concurrent ument. Article 18 of the Universal Dec- States to see free, democratic political de- velopment, the restoration of the rule of law, resolution. laration of Human Rights states: Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, and full civil and political rights for all Ira- Everyone has the right to freedom of earlier today the Senate voted on H.R. nians; and thought, conscience and religion; this right (4) calls on the Government of Iran to re- 1883, the Iran Nonproliferation Act of includes freedom to change his religion or join the community of nations and renounce 2000. That bill will shortly be voted on belief, and freedom, either alone or in com- terrorism, opposition to the Middle East by the House and sent to the President. munity with others and in public or private, peace process, and the development and ac- I hope he will sign it because it is an to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, quisition of weapons of mass destruction. practice, worship and observance. important signal that the United f States will not tolerate the prolifera- This hour, I call on the Government tion of weapons of mass destruction of Iran—from whom the people of Iran, DETENTION OF ANDREI BABITSKY and the means of delivering them. We by their clear vote this week, are seek- BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE will not tolerate trafficking in missiles ing change—to ensure the safety of RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND and the technology with which to build these three individuals. FREEDOM OF THE PRESS IN them. I believe that is an important This hour, I call for the release of RUSSIA signal for us to send. these individuals—Sirus Zabihi- Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I I also think it is important we recog- Moghaddam, Hedayat Kashefi- ask unanimous consent that the Sen- nize what took place this week in Iran. Najafabadi, and Manuchehr Khulusi— ate now proceed to the immediate con- This threat occurred, but in the midst whose only crime was a sincere expres- sideration of S. Res. 261, submitted ear- of this, 80 percent of the people in Iran sion of their faith, which is a universal lier by Senators HELMS, BIDEN, ROTH, turned out to vote. They are not inter- fundamental right. LOTT, and DODD. ested in the entrenched policies of Aya- Most importantly, I call upon the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The tollah Khomeini and his harsh legacy. Government of Iran to provide freedom clerk will report the resolution by Reformers dominated in the polls. De- of religion to its people—who are title.

VerDate mar 24 2004 15:32 Aug 04, 2004 Jkt 079102 PO 00000 Frm 00083 Fmt 0685 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR00\S24FE0.002 S24FE0 1550 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE February 24, 2000 The assistant legislative clerk read The Russian Government’s response come a democracy if the Kremlin con- as follows: to inquiries about Babitsky’s health tinues to repress, intimidate, harass, A resolution (S. Res. 261) expressing the and whereabouts have been contradic- and brutalize those journalists who do sense of the Senate regarding the detention tory and dismissive. not share its point view. Our ability to of Andrei Babitsky by the Government of the After nearly three weeks of asserting help Russia evolve into a democracy Russian Federation and freedom of the press that Babitsky had not been detained, cannot be effective if we ignore such in Russia. that he was about to be freed—and, in- systematic repression of the press. There being no objection, the Senate deed, that he had been freed, a Kremlin I call upon my colleagues to join me proceeded to consider the resolution. spokesman summarily announced on in supporting this resolution. Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, during February 3 that his government ex- Allow me to close on one point re- the past 5 months the Government of changed Babitsky for three Russian lated to the disappearance of Andrei Russia has waged a brutal war against prisoners of war held by the Chechen Babitsky, freedom of the press in Rus- Chechnya. The Kremlin’s indiscrimi- resistance. sia and the relationship between Wash- nate use of force has left countless Chechen authorities deny that such ington and Moscow. thousands of innocents dead and hun- an exchange ever took place. And, the It has become public knowledge that dreds of thousands homeless on the icy Kremlin has not provided one iota of some in these two capitals contemplate plains and in the snow-covered moun- credible evidence backing its version of a summit meeting in the near future tains of the Caucasus. between President Clinton and Presi- We all have seen the photos of events. Today, the fate of Andrei Babitsky remains unknown. He is a fa- dent Vladimir Putin. If our govern- Grozny, a city subjected to a travesty ment is serious about determining the not witnessed in Europe since the siege ther with a loving and courageous wife and two children. We must pray that facts surrounding Andrei Babitsky’s of Stalingrad and the leveling of War- fate, if our government is serious about saw in World War II. Indeed, what has Babitsky will return safely to his fam- ily. protecting other journalists from such been done to Grozny surpasses even the abuse, and if our government is serious havoc Milosevic wrought upon the Mr. President, it is with Andrei Babitsky in mind, I, along with Sen- about promoting democratic reform in towns and cities of Bosnia-Herzegovina Russia, the administration will ator BIDEN, the Majority Leader, and and Kosovo. It is difficult to believe, promptly dismiss such proposed sum- but it is true. Senator ROTH, send to the desk a reso- lution concerning the state of freedom mits until Putin has provided a full In a time when Western Governments and credible accounting of Babitsky’s of press in Russia. This resolution re- have turned a blind eye to this conflict, detention and his current whereabouts. counts the facts as we know them in the ability of journalists to report ob- It is premature to consider summit jectively on the horrors of this war be- the case of Andrei Babitsky, and it un- meetings at a time when the Russian comes all the more important to the ef- derscores that his detention and dis- government remains contemptuously fort to bring an end to this violence appearance are not isolated incidents dismissive of Babitsky and our con- and establish a just peace. but part of the Russian government’s cerns about his safety, not to mention Russian President Vladimir Putin ap- broader and systematic repression of the international community’s call for pears to recognize this only too well. the press. a just peace in Chechnya. As a consequence, freedom of the press, It expresses our belief that—and at The administration has repeatedly a cornerstone of democracy, has be- that this point I shall read the con- stated that the Kremlin will isolate come another victim of his government cluding elements of the pending resolu- itself through its barbaric conduct in and his war against Chechnya. tion: Chechnya. Now is the time for the ad- Mr. President, the Russian govern- (1) The detention of Andrei Babitsky by ministration to live up to its own ment is today systematically censoring the Government of Russia and the misin- words. the press and attempting to use it to formation it has issued concerning this mat- Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, I am disseminate misinformation about pub- ter constitute reprehensible treatment of a pleased to join the chairman of the civilian in a conflict zone, in violation of the lic events. Journalists in Russia who principles set forth in Protocol I to the Ge- Foreign Relations Committee, Senator report on the war and other matters in neva Conventions, and demonstrate the HELMS, in supporting a resolution re- a manner contradicting the Putin Gov- [Russian] Government’s intolerance toward a garding Andrei Babitsky, a reporter for ernment do so at great risk. They are free and open press; Radio Liberty, who has been missing in subject to intimidation, harassment, (2) The conduct by the Government of Rus- Russia since January. detention, and even violence by Rus- sia leaves it responsible for the safety of Mr. Babitsky is a veteran reporter sian authorities. Andrei Babitsky; for Radio Liberty, the U.S.-funded In one recent case, Russian police at- (3) The Government of Russia should take radio broadcasting organization based steps to secure the safe return of RFE/RL re- in Prague. He has reported on Russia tempted to arrest a journalist and send porter Andrei Babitsky to his family; him off to a psychiatric hospital, a (4) The Government of Russia should pro- for over a decade, and reported on the ghoulish effort reminiscent of Putin’s vide a full accounting of Mr. Babitsky’s de- Russo-Chechen war from 1994 to 1996 not to distant career in the Soviet tention and the charges he faced; and and over the past several months. KGB. (5) The Russian authorities should imme- In mid-January, Mr. Babitsky dis- Nowhere has this suppression of the diately halt its harassment of journalists, appeared in Chechnya. Since then, Rus- free press become more blatant and foreign and domestic, who cover the war in sian officials have issued contradictory cruel than in the case of Andrei Chechnya and any other event in the Russian statements about Mr. Babitsky’s Babitsky, a ten year veteran journalist Federation and should fully adhere to the whereabouts and well-being. On Janu- Universal Declaration of Human Rights ary 26, a Russian presidential spokes- of our own Radio Liberty and Radio which declares in Article 19 that ‘‘everyone Free Europe. has the right to freedom of opinion and ex- man stated that Babitsky ‘‘left Grozny Babitsky courageously and objec- pression; this right includes the freedom to and then disappeared,’’ and that Rus- tively covered the 1994–1996 Russo- hold opinions without interference and to sian officials had no knowledge of his Chechen war as well as the current seek, receive and impart information and whereabouts. Two days later, Russian conflict. For his accounts of the atroc- ideas through any media and regardless of authorities acknowledged to officials ities committed by Russian military frontiers.’’ from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the resilience of the Chechen re- No principle lies deeper in the heart that Mr. Babitsky had been detained, sistance, he has paid an extremely high of democracy than the right to free but that he would soon be released. price. speech. And the embodiment of that Just a few days after that, Russian of- In mid-January, he was seized in principle is a free press. Not only is ficials stated that, instead of being re- Chechnya by Russian forces and de- freedom of the press a cornerstone of leased, Mr. Babitsky had been handed tained. That is the last heard from him democracy, it is a key catalyst of to Chechen rebels in exchange for three directly. democratic reform. Russia will not be- Russian prisoners of war.

VerDate mar 24 2004 15:32 Aug 04, 2004 Jkt 079102 PO 00000 Frm 00084 Fmt 0685 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR00\S24FE0.003 S24FE0 February 24, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE 1551 It is now late February. Mr. Babitsky Whereas on December 27, 1999, the Russian Whereas the Government of the Russian still has not been heard from, and the Information Committee (RIC) in Chechnya Federation has egregiously restricted the ef- Russian government has yet to provide accused Babitsky of ‘‘conspiracy with forts of journalists to report on the indis- a credible accounting of his where- Chechen rebels’’ after he broadcast a story criminate brutality of Russia’s use of force that shed unfavorable light on Russian mili- in Chechnya: Now, therefore, be it abouts. tary actions in Chechnya; Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate The actions and statements of the Whereas on January 8, 2000, Russian secu- that— Government of the Russian Federation rity agents raided Babitsky’s apartment in (1) the detention of Andrei Babitsky by the are deeply troubling, not only because Moscow and confiscated several items and Government of the Russian Federation and of what they may mean for Mr. later ordered his wife, Ludmila Babitskaya, the misinformation the Government of the Babitsky’s well-being, but for what to report to a local militia station in Mos- Russian Federation has issued concerning they may portend about the freedom of cow after she attempted to pick up photo- this matter— the press in Russia today. Mr. Babitsky graphs taken by her husband in Chechnya; (A) constitute reprehensible treatment of a Whereas on January 18, 2000, Babitsky was civilian in a conflict zone in violation of the is a journalist, working for an Amer- reportedly detained by Russian authorities Geneva Conventions and applicable proto- ican-supported news organization. His in Moscow but later reports indicated that cols; and detention by the Russian authorities, he was not formally arrested until January (B) demonstrate the Government of the and his reported exchange with the 27, 2000; Russian Federation’s intolerance toward a Chechens, violates fundamental norms Whereas on January 26, 2000, Russian presi- free and open press; embodied in the Geneva Conventions dential spokesman Sergei Yastrzhembsky (2) the conduct of the Government of the and applicable protocols. Equally trou- said that Babitsky ‘‘left Grozny and then Russian Federation leaves it responsible for bling, the detention and mistreatment disappeared’’ and declared that Russian secu- the safety of Andrei Babitsky; rity services had no idea as to his where- (3) the Government of the Russian Federa- of a working journalist is a chilling in- abouts and that ‘‘his security is not guaran- tion should take steps to secure the safe re- dication that the Government of the teed’’; turn of RFE/RL reporter Andrei Babitsky to Russian Federation is not committed Whereas on January 28, 2000, Russian his family; to a fundamental human right: freedom media officials told RFE/RL that Babitsky (4) the Government of the Russian Federa- of the press. These are not just the would be released with apologies after hav- tion should provide a full accounting of Mr. words of one United States Senator. In ing been charged with participating in ‘‘an Babitsky’s detention and the charges he may Russia itself, a leading journalists’ illegal armed formation’’; face; and union has stated that the Babitsky Whereas on February 2, 2000, Moscow offi- (5) the Russian authorities should imme- cials announced that Babitsky would be diately halt their harassment of journalists, case is ‘‘not an isolated episode, but al- transferred from Naursky district near foreign and domestic, who cover the war in most a turning point in the struggle Chechnya to Gudermes and then to Moscow Chechnya and any other event in the Russian for a press that serves society and not where he would then be released on his own Federation and should fully adhere to the the authorities.’’ recognizance; Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Several weeks ago, the chairman and Whereas on February 3, 2000, Russian presi- which declares in Article 19 that ‘‘everyone I wrote to Acting President Putin and dential spokesman Sergei Yastrzhembsky has the right to freedom of opinion and ex- urged Mr. Babitsky’s release. Several said that Russian officials exchanged pression; this right includes the freedom to other senators and members of the Babitsky for 3 Russian prisoners of war and hold opinions without interference and to on the same day, Vladimir Ustinov, acting seek, receive and impart information and other body have expressed similar Russian prosecutor general, said Babitsky ideas through any media regardless of fron- views. Additionally, the Secretary of had been released and had gone over to the tiers’’. State has raised this matter with sen- Chechens on his own accord; f ior Russian officials. In Russia, Europe Whereas the Government of the Russian and the United States, there has been Federation has repeatedly issued contradic- PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF THE universal condemnation of the Russian tory statements on the detention of Andrei CONFLICT IN CHECHNYA Government for its actions in this mat- Babitsky and provided neither a credible ac- Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I ter. counting of its detention of Babitsky nor ask unanimous consent that the Sen- any credible evidence of his well-being; Today we have decided to call addi- Whereas United Nations High Commis- ate proceed to the immediate consider- tional attention to Mr. Babitsky’s sioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson ation of S. Res. 262, introduced earlier plight by introducing this sense of the stated on February 16 that Russian behavior today by Senator WELLSTONE. Senate resolution, which criticizes the in Chechnya and the detention of Andrei The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Government of the Russian Federation Babitsky appears to violate the Geneva con- clerk will report the resolution by for its actions in the Babitsky matter ventions to which Russia is a signatory; title. and calls on Moscow to provide a full Whereas on February 16, 2000, Russian The assistant legislative clerk read accounting of his detention. Human Rights Commissioner Oleg Mironov as follows: denounced Moscow’s handling of Babitsky as I hope it will get the attention of the a violation of Russian law and international A resolution (S. Res. 262) entitled ‘‘Peace- Russian Government. I hope it will law and stated that the situation sur- ful Resolution of the Conflict in Chechnya.’’ help lead to the truth about the where- rounding Babitsky signals ‘‘that the same There being no objection, the Senate abouts of Mr. Babitsky. I urge my col- thing may happen to every reporter’’; proceeded to consider the resolution. leagues to support it. Whereas the Union of Journalists in Russia Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I declared on February 16 that the case of ask unanimous consent that the reso- ask unanimous consent that the reso- Andrei Babitsky is ‘‘not an isolated episode, lution and preamble be agreed to en lution be agreed to, the preamble be but almost a turning point in the struggle bloc, the motion to reconsider be laid for a press that serves society and not the agreed to, and the motion to reconsider authorities’’ and that ‘‘the threat to freedom upon the table, and that any state- be laid upon the table. of speech in Russia has for the first time in ments relating thereto be printed in The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without the last several years transformed into its the RECORD. objection, it is so ordered. open and regular suppression’’; The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without The resolution (S. Res. 261) was Whereas freedom of the press is both a cen- objection, it is so ordered. agreed to. tral element of democracy as well as a cata- The resolution (S. Res. 262) was The preamble was agreed to. lyst for democratic reform; agreed to. The resolution, with its preamble, Whereas the Government of the Russian The preamble was agreed to. reads as follows: Federation has repeatedly violated the prin- The resolution, with its preamble, ciples of freedom of the press by subjecting S. RES. 261 journalists who question or oppose its poli- reads as follows: Whereas Andrei Babitsky, a dedicated and cies to censorship, intimidation, harassment, S. RES. 262 professional journalist for Radio Free Eu- incarceration, and violence; by restricting Whereas the people of Chechnya are exer- rope/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) for the last 10 beyond internationally accepted limits their cising the legitimate right of self-defense years, reported on the 1994–1996 and the cur- access to information; and by issuing mis- against the indiscriminate use of force by rent Russo-Chechen wars; leading and false information; and the Government of the Russian Federation;

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