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***Hearing Set for Weds. Oct. 21***Russian Human Rights Violations Focus of Congressional Hearing

Russian Rule-of-Law Abuses to Be Examined at Upcoming Helsinki Commission Hearing

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Washington, Oct 19, 2015 | Jeff Sagnip ((202) 225-3765) | comments
The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, will hold a hearing on the actions of the Russian government which have raised questions about Russia’s failure to respect its commitment to the rule of law in the areas of military security, commerce, and laws bearing on human rights–each corresponding to one of the three dimensions of security established by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).  

            Using the Helsinki Final Act as a basis for discussion, the hearing will focus on security violations of the Budapest Memorandum; the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), Open Skies, Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaties, and the Vienna Document. Regarding international legal and commercial agreements such as the Energy Charter Treaty, the New York Convention and bilateral investment treaties the hearing will review developments in the Yukos Oil case. On human rights, it will inquire into cases of abduction/unjust imprisonment, torture, and abuse, including those of Nadiya Savchenko, Oleg Sentsov, and Eston Kover.
 

          WHAT:      Congressional hearing entitled “Russian Violations of the Rule of Law: How Should the U.S. Respond? 3 Case Studies”
 

          WHO:       Smith, members and staff of the Helsinki Commission:

 

  • Vladimir Kara-Murza, Coordinator, Open Russia Movement

  • Alan Larson, Senior International Policy Advisor with Covington & Burlington LLP, former Under Secretary of State for Economics and Career Ambassador, U.S. State Department

  • Tim Osborne, Executive Director of GML Ltd. - the majority owner of the now liquidated Yukos Oil Company

  • Stephen Rademaker, Principal with the Podesta Group, Former Assistant Secretary of State for the U.S. State Department Bureau of Arms Control and the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation

     

    WHEN:          Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 2 p.m.

     

    WHERE:        Room 2255 in the Rayburn House Office Building (second floor).

     

    The U.S. Helsinki Commission is an independent agency of the U.S. Federal Government charged with monitoring compliance with the Helsinki Accords and advancing comprehensive security through promotion of human rights, democracy, and economic, environmental and military cooperation in 56 countries. The Commission consists of nine members from the U.S. Senate, nine from the House of Representatives, and one member each from the Departments of State, Defense, and Commerce.

     

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