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[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 447 Engrossed in House (EH)]

H. Res. 447

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                     February 10, 2014.
Whereas a democratic, prosperous, and independent Ukraine is in the national 
        interest of the United States;
Whereas the Government of Ukraine has declared integration with Europe a 
        national priority and has made significant progress toward meeting the 
        requirements for an Association Agreement;
Whereas on November 21, 2013, following several months of intense outside 
        pressure, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych abruptly suspended 
        negotiations on the Association Agreement one week before it was due to 
        be signed at the European Union's Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius, 
        Lithuania;
Whereas this reversal of stated government policy precipitated demonstrations by 
        hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian citizens in Kyiv as well as in cities 
        throughout the country;
Whereas the demonstrators have been overwhelmingly peaceful and have sought to 
        exercise their constitutional rights to freely assemble and express 
        their opposition to President Yanukovych's decision;
Whereas the demonstrators have consistently expressed their support for 
        democracy, human rights, greater government accountability, and the rule 
        of law, as well as for closer relations with Europe;
Whereas on November 30, 2013, police violently dispersed peaceful demonstrators 
        in Kyiv's Independence Square, resulting in many injuries and the arrest 
        of several dozen individuals;
Whereas on December 11, 2013, police raided 3 opposition media outlets and the 
        headquarters of an opposition party;
Whereas on December 11, 2013, despite President Yanukovych's statement the 
        previous day that he would engage in talks with the opposition, police 
        attempted to forcibly evict peaceful protesters from central locations 
        in Kyiv;
Whereas several journalists, including from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and 
        civic activists supporting the demonstrators have been brutally 
        attacked;
Whereas on January 16, 2014, the Ukrainian parliament passed, and President 
        Yanukovych signed, legislation which severely limits the right of 
        peaceful protest, constrains freedom of speech and the independent 
        media, and unduly restricts civil society organizations;
Whereas the passage of these undemocratic measures and President Yanukovych's 
        refusal to engage in substantive dialogue with opposition leaders 
        precipitated several days of violence and resulted in several deaths and 
        hundreds of injuries, as well as numerous allegations of police 
        brutality; and
Whereas in the face of spreading demonstrations, Ukrainian Government 
        representatives and opposition leaders have entered into negotiations 
        which on January 28, 2014, resulted in the resignation of the Prime 
        Minister and his cabinet and the repeal of most of the anti-democratic 
        laws from January 16, 2014: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) greatly values the warm and close relationship the United States 
        has established with Ukraine since that country regained its 
        independence in 1991;
            (2) supports the democratic and European aspirations of the people 
        of Ukraine, and their right to choose their own future free of 
        intimidation and fear;
            (3) calls on the United States and the European Union to continue to 
        work together to support a peaceful resolution to the crisis, and to 
        continue to support the desire of millions of Ukrainian citizens for 
        democracy, human rights, government accountability, and the rule of law, 
        and closer relations with Europe;
            (4) urges the Government of Ukraine, Ukrainian opposition parties, 
        and all protesters to exercise the utmost restraint and avoid 
        confrontation, and calls on the Government of Ukraine to live up to its 
        international obligations and respect and uphold the democratic rights 
        of its citizens, including the freedom of assembly and expression, as 
        well as the freedom of the press;
            (5) condemns all acts of violence and calls on the Government of 
        Ukraine to bring to justice those responsible for violence and brutality 
        against peaceful protesters, and to release and drop any criminal 
        charges against those detained for peacefully exercising their 
        democratic rights;
            (6) welcomes the repeal by the Ukrainian parliament of most of the 
        anti-democratic measures adopted on January 16, 2014, and urges 
        President Yanukovych to continue to engage in substantive talks with 
        opposition leaders to address the legitimate grievances of the 
        opposition, and to take additional steps to de-escalate tensions;
            (7) urges the United States and the European Union to continue to 
        make clear to Ukraine's leaders that those who authorize or engage in 
        violence against peaceful protesters will be held personally 
        accountable;
            (8) supports the measures taken by the Department of State to revoke 
        the visas of several Ukrainians linked to the violence, and encourages 
        the Administration to consider additional targeted sanctions against 
        those who authorize or engage in the use of force; and
            (9) urges all parties to engage in constructive, sustained dialogue 
        in order to find a peaceful solution to Ukraine's current political and 
        economic crisis.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.
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