IV 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 447 

Supporting the democratic and European aspirations of the people of Ukraine, 

and their right to choose their own future free of intimidation and fear. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 16, 2013 

Mr. ENGEL (for himself, Mr. ROYCE, Mr. LEVIN, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. KEATING, 

and Mr. GERLACH) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 

to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the democratic and European aspirations of the 

people of Ukraine, and their right to choose their own 

future free of intimidation and fear. 

Whereas a democratic, prosperous, and independent Ukraine 

is in the national interest of the United States; 

Whereas closer relations with the European Union (EU) 

through the signing of an Association Agreement will 

promote democratic values, good governance, and economic opportunity in Ukraine; 

Whereas millions of Ukrainian citizens support closer relations with Europe and the signing of an Association 

Agreement; 

Whereas the Government of Ukraine has declared integration 

with Europe a national priority and has made significant 

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progress toward meeting the requirements for the Association Agreement; 

Whereas Ukraine has the sovereign right to enter into voluntary partnerships of its choosing, in keeping with its 

interests; 

Whereas Ukraine’s closer relations with the EU do not 

threaten any other country, and will benefit both Ukraine 

and its neighbors; 

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 EU’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, as well as their support for 

greater government accountability and 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; 

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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; and 

Whereas United States, European, and other leaders, as well 

as 3 former presidents of Ukraine, have urged restraint 

and warned against the use of violence against peaceful 

protesters, and have called for dialogue with the opposition to resolve the current political and economic crisis: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) greatly values the warm and close relation3 ship the United States has established with Ukraine 

4 since that country regained its independence in 

5 1991; 

6 (2) supports the democratic and European aspi7 rations of the people of Ukraine, and their right to 

8 choose their own future free of intimidation and 

9 fear; 

10 (3) calls on the United States and the Euro11 pean Union to continue to work together to support 

12 a peaceful resolution to the crisis, and to continue 

13 to support the desire of millions of Ukrainian citi14 zens for closer relations with Europe through the 

15 signing of an Association Agreement, as well as for 

16 a democratic future; 

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1 (4) urges the Government of Ukraine, Ukrain2 ian opposition parties, and all protesters to exercise 

3 the utmost restraint and avoid confrontation, and 

4 calls on the Government of Ukraine to live up to its 

5 international obligations and respect and uphold the 

6 democratic rights of its citizens, including the free7 dom of assembly and expression, as well as the free8 dom of the press; 

9 (5) calls on the Government of Ukraine to bring 

10 to justice those responsible for violence against 

11 peaceful protesters, and to release and drop criminal 

12 charges against those detained for exercising their 

13 democratic rights; 

14 (6) urges the United States and the European 

15 Union to continue to make clear to Ukraine’s leaders 

16 that those who authorize or engage in violence 

17 against peaceful protesters will be held personally 

18 accountable; 

19 (7) states that in the event of further violence 

20 by government authorities against peaceful pro21 testers, the United States House of Representatives 

22 may consider targeted sanctions against those who 

23 authorize or engage in this use of force; and 

24 (8) urges all parties to engage in constructive, 

25 sustained dialogue in order to find a peaceful solumaindgalligan on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with BILLS

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1 tion to Ukraine’s current political and economic cri2 sis. 

Æ 

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