IV 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 351 
Condemning the violence and persecution in Chechnya. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 23, 2017 
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN (for herself, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. ISSA, Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. 
ROYCE of California, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Ms. 
NORTON, Ms. SINEMA, Mr. TAKANO, Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of 
New York, Ms. TITUS, Mr. GALLEGO, Mr. DENT, Ms. BROWNLEY of 
California, Ms. SPEIER, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. MACARTHUR, Mr. LOBI-
ONDO, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. COOK, Mr. CONNOLLY, Mr. SIRES, Ms. 
FRANKEL of Florida, Ms. TENNEY, Mr. POCAN, Ms. HANABUSA, Mr. 
DONOVAN, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Mr. COFFMAN, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. 
DEUTCH, and Mr. SCHNEIDER) submitted the following resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Condemning the violence and persecution in Chechnya. 
Whereas, on April 1, 2017, the Russian newspaper Novaya 
Gazeta reported that authorities in Chechnya, a republic 
of the Russian Federation, had abducted, detained, and 
tortured over 100 men due to their actual or suspected 
sexual orientation; 
Whereas multiple independent and first-hand accounts have 
subsequently corroborated the Novaya Gazeta report, and 
describe a campaign of persecution by Chechen officials 
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•HRES 351 IH 
not be believed because formal complaints have not been 
registered with the appropriate authorities; 
Whereas the Russian Federation is a participating State of 
the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe 
and a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human 
Rights, and thus has agreed to guarantee the funda-
mental human rights of all of its citizens; 
Whereas, on April 7, 2017, the United States Department of 
State issued a statement saying ‘‘We categorically con-
demn the persecution of individuals based on their sexual 
orientation’’ and urging the Government of the Russian 
Federation to take steps to ensure the release of all those 
wrongfully detained in Chechnya, and to conduct a cred-
ible investigation of the reports; and 
Whereas, on April 17, 2017, United States Ambassador to 
the United Nations Nikki Haley issued a statement say-
ing ‘‘Chechen authorities must immediately investigate 
these allegations, hold anyone involved accountable, and 
take steps to prevent future abuses. We are against all 
forms of discrimination, including against people based 
on sexual orientation. When left unchecked, discrimina-
tion and human rights abuses can lead to destabilization 
and conflict.’’: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) condemns the violence and persecution in 
Chechnya and calls on Chechen officials to imme-
diately cease the abduction, detention, and torture of 
individuals on the basis of their actual or suspected 
sexual orientation, and hold accountable all those in-
volved in perpetrating such abuses; 
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•HRES 351 IH 
(2) calls on the Government of the Russian 
Federation to protect the human rights of all its citi-
zens, condemn the violence and persecution, inves-
tigate these crimes in Chechnya, and hold account-
able all those involved in perpetrating such abuses; 
(3) calls on the United States Government to 
continue to condemn the violence and persecution in 
Chechnya and demand the release of individuals 
wrongfully detained; and 
(4) affirms that the rights to freedom of assem-
bly, association, and expression and freedom from 
extrajudicial detention and violence are universal 
human rights that apply to all persons, and that 
countries that fail to respect these rights jeopardize 
the security and prosperity of all their citizens. 
Æ 
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