III 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 357 

Expressing concern for undemocratic governance and the abuse of the rights 

of individuals in Ukraine. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 12, 2014 

Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself and Mr. RISCH) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing concern for undemocratic governance and the 

abuse of the rights of individuals in Ukraine. 

Whereas the political crisis that has engulfed Ukraine reflects 

the people’s desire for a democratic state which rejects 

corruption and abides by the rule of law; 

Whereas Ukraine is a participating State of the Organization 

for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and has 

made commitments to respect the human rights of its 

citizens; 

Whereas, in 2009, Ukraine joined the European Union’s 

Eastern Partnership initiative, pledging to uphold the 

shared values of democracy, the rule of law, and respect 

for human rights; 


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•SRES 357 IS 

Whereas the Government of Ukraine committed to judicial 

and electoral reforms to align with those of the European 

Union in preparation for the signing of an Association 

Agreement with the European Union; 

Whereas, on Thursday, November 21, 2013, Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych announced that Ukraine would 

not sign an Association Agreement with the European 

Union, causing thousands of Ukrainians to assemble in 

Kiev’s Maidan Square in peaceful protest; 

Whereas, on November 30 and December 11, 2013, Ukrainian paramilitary police used excessive force against peaceful demonstrators in Kiev’s Maidan Square; 

Whereas, on January 16, 2014, the parliament of Ukraine 

passed anti-protest legislation restricting the right to 

peaceful assembly and the exercise of free speech, constraining independent media, and inhibiting the operation 

of nongovernmental organizations; 

Whereas it is unclear whether these measures were passed legally, or have subsequently been entirely repealed; 

Whereas, on January 20, 2014, Freedom House stated it is 

‘‘deeply concerned by Ukrainian authorities’ targeted violence against journalists during public protests in Kiev— 

demonstrations spurred by President Viktor 

Yanukovych’s signing into law measures that tightly limit 

public protests, among other rollbacks on freedom’’; 

Whereas, on January 22, 2014, the actions of authorities in 

Ukraine resulted in the death of two protestors, including 

one who was ‘‘brutally beaten by two riot police officers,’’ 

according to Amnesty International; 

Whereas, on January 30, 2014, Freedom House stated that 

‘‘at least five Euromaidan activists are still reported 


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•SRES 357 IS 

missing, some since November 30, 2013 when anti-government demonstrations intensified’’; 

Whereas there are substantiated reports of kidnappings, including the abduction and torture of opposition activist 

Dmitrii Bulatov, and evidence of police brutality carried 

out against protesters and other activists, and the 

Ukrainian nongovernmental organization EuroMaidan 

SOS claims that as many as 27 people may be missing; 

Whereas, on January 31, 2014, Human Rights Watch found 

that ‘‘Ukrainian police assaulted and injured dozens of 

journalists and medical workers while trying to disperse 

street fighters and protesters in Kiev’’ and called upon 

the international community to ‘‘press Ukraine to investigate serious human rights violations and prosecute 

those responsible in accordance with international due 

process standards’’; 

Whereas, on January 31, 2014, Freedom House reported 

that ‘‘more than 40 journalists have been injured covering the demonstrations’’ and that ‘‘[m]any of the reporters were attacked while wearing visible identification 

of their status as journalists’’; 

Whereas the Government of Ukraine has continued to intimidate and use violence against journalists and others expressing political opinions critical of the current government; and 

Whereas, on January 7, 2014, the United States Senate 

passed a resolution expressing support for the people of 

Ukraine in light of public resistance to President 

Yanukovych’s decision not to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that— 


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•SRES 357 IS 

1 (1) the President should increase democracy 

2 and human rights programming in Ukraine to the 

3 extent possible; 

4 (2) the United States Government should im5 mediately review security assistance funding for any 

6 organization in Ukraine involved in repressive efforts 

7 that violate the civil or human rights of the people 

8 of Ukraine; 

9 (3) the United States Mission to the Organiza10 tion for Security and Co-operation in Europe 

11 (OSCE) should utilize the resources and mechanisms 

12 of the OSCE to monitor and address human rights 

13 concerns, including the Office for Democratic Insti14 tutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and Rep15 resentative on Freedom of Media (RFM); 

16 (4) the United States Representative to the 

17 United Nations Human Rights Council should ad18 dress Ukraine appropriately to bodies such as the 

19 United Nations Human Rights Council; 

20 (5) the Department of State should immediately 

21 consider the imposition of targeted sanctions, includ22 ing visa bans and asset freezes, against the per23 petrators of state-sanctioned violence in Ukraine 

24 against peaceful protesters, journalists, and other 

25 members of civil society; 


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•SRES 357 IS 

1 (6) the United States Government should urge 

2 authorities in Ukraine to locate missing persons and 

3 release all political prisoners, including former Prime 

4 Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, and hold perpetrators 

5 of extra-legal measures accountable; 

6 (7) the United States Government should work 

7 closely with the European Union to strengthen and 

8 support its efforts in Ukraine; and 

9 (8) the United States Government endorses the 

10 statement of the European Union’s Council on For11 eign Affairs of February 10, 2014, which stated, ‘‘A 

12 new and inclusive government, constitutional reform 

13 bringing back more balance of powers, and prepara14 tions for free and fair presidential elections would 

15 contribute to bringing Ukraine back on a sustainable 

16 path of reforms.’’ 

Æ 


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