III 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 319 

Expressing support for the Ukrainian people in light of President 

Yanukovych’s decision not to sign an Association Agreement with the 

European Union. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 12 (legislative day, DECEMBER 11), 2013 

Mr. MURPHY (for himself, Mr. JOHNSON of Wisconsin, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Mr. 

DURBIN, and Mr. MENENDEZ) submitted the following resolution; which 

was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the Ukrainian people in light of 

President Yanukovych’s decision not to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union. 

Whereas, according to a poll conducted in November 2013, 

a majority of the people of Ukraine supported signing a 

historic trade and political agreement with the European 

Union; 

Whereas a closer association between Ukraine and the European Union has been supported by Ukrainian civil society, business leaders, and politicians across the political 

spectrum and would bring lasting political, democratic, 

and economic benefits to the people of Ukraine; 


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•SRES 319 IS 

Whereas Ukraine successfully passed much of the legislation 

required to conform to European Union standards for 

signing an Association Agreement; 

Whereas, on September 22, 2012, and November 18, 2013, 

the Senate unanimously passed resolutions calling for a 

demonstrable end to selective justice in Ukraine and expressing its belief that Ukraine’s future lies with stronger 

ties to Europe, the United States, and others in the community of democracies; 

Whereas the experience of countries such as Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia provides a positive example of 

increased economic opportunity, enhanced personal freedom, and good governance. which can also be realized by 

Ukraine; 

Whereas the Government and people of Ukraine have the sovereign right to choose their own foreign policy and economic course, and no other country has the right to determine their political and economic orientation, nor decide which alliances and trade agreements they can join; 

Whereas, on November 21, 2013, President Viktor 

Yanukovych suspended Ukraine’s preparations for signing the Association Agreement one week before a critical 

European Union Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania; 

Whereas the abrupt reversal on the eve of the summit following Russian economic coercion and to protect the narrow interests of some officials and individuals in Ukraine 

prompted hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians all across 

the country, especially young people and students, to protest the decision and stand in support of furthering 

Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration; 


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•SRES 319 IS 

Whereas international nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations provide essential care to needy Ukrainians, yet 

face direct threats and challenges to their existence and 

administrative and regulatory impediments, including 

challenges to operating with the tax-exempt status necessary to maximize the use of funds on the ground and 

threats to the fabric of civil society vital to democracy in 

Ukraine; 

Whereas, on November 30, 2013, at Independence Square in 

Kyiv, special division police dispersed a peaceful demonstration of students and civil society activists who were 

calling on President Yanukovych to sign the Association 

Agreement; 

Whereas approximately 35 individuals were detained or arrested, and dozens were hospitalized, some with severe injuries; 

Whereas, on December 9, 2013, raids were conducted on 

three opposition media outlets and the headquarters of 

one opposition party; 

Whereas, on December 11, 2013, Ukrainian authorities conducted an overnight police operation in an attempt to 

forcefully take control of Independence Square, but were 

resisted by brave Ukrainians who filled the square and 

rebuffed the police action; 

Whereas all three former Presidents of Ukraine have underscored the need to refrain from violence and the importance of engaging in a dialogue with the opposition; and 

Whereas Ukraine faces an impending economic crisis that can 

only be solved with long-term economic reforms: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 


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•SRES 319 IS 

1 (1) stands with the people of Ukraine and sup2 ports their sovereign right to chart an independent 

3 and democratic future for their country; 

4 (2) urges leaders in the United States and the 

5 European Union to continue working together ac6 tively to support a peaceful and democratic resolu7 tion to the current crisis that moves Ukraine toward 

8 a future in the Euro-Atlantic community and a long9 term solution to Ukraine’s economic crisis; 

10 (3) encourages demonstrators and members of 

11 the opposition and civil society in Ukraine to con12 tinue avoiding the use of violence and engage in a 

13 dialogue of national reconciliation; 

14 (4) urges all political parties to refrain from 

15 hate speech or actions of an anti-Semitic or other 

16 character which further divide the Ukrainian people 

17 when they need to be united; 

18 (5) calls on the Government of Ukraine to re19 frain from further use of force or acts of violence 

20 against peaceful protestors, and to respect the inter21 nationally recognized human rights of the Ukrainian 

22 people, especially the freedoms of speech and assem23 bly; 

24 (6) condemns the decision by Ukrainian au25 thorities to use violence against peaceful demonstraVerDate Mar 15 2010 01:36 Dec 14, 2013 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR319.IS SR319

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•SRES 319 IS 

1 tors on November 30, December 1, and December 

2 11, 2013, and calls for those responsible to be swift3 ly brought to justice and all detained nonviolent 

4 demonstrators to be immediately released; and 

5 (7) notes that in the event of further state vio6 lence against peaceful protestors, the President and 

7 Congress should consider whether to apply targeted 

8 sanctions, including visa bans and asset freezes, 

9 against individuals responsible for ordering or car10 rying out the violence. 

Æ 


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