IV 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 312 
Urging the Government of the Russian Federation to withdraw or modify 
proposed legislation that would have the effect of severely restricting 
the establishment, operations, and activities of domestic and foreign 
nongovernmental organizations in the Russian Federation. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 8, 2005 
Mr. HYDE (for himself and Mr. LANTOS) submitted the following concurrent 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Urging the Government of the Russian Federation to with-
draw or modify proposed legislation that would have 
the effect of severely restricting the establishment, oper-
ations, and activities of domestic and foreign nongovern-
mental organizations in the Russian Federation. 
Whereas Russian Federation President Putin has stated that 
‘‘modern Russia’s greatest achievement is the democratic 
process [and] the achievements of our civil society’’; 
Whereas the unobstructed establishment and free and auton-
omous operations and activities of nongovernmental orga-
nizations and a robust civil society free from excessive 
government control are central and indispensable ele-
ments of a democratic society;
•HCON 312 IH 
Whereas the free and autonomous operations of nongovern-
mental organizations in any society necessarily encom-
pass activities, including political activities, that are con-
trary to government policies; 
Whereas the Government of the Russian Federation has pro-
posed the adoption of legislation that would have the ef-
fect of severely restricting the establishment, operations, 
and activities of domestic and foreign nongovernmental 
organizations in the Russian Federation, including im-
posing unprecedented restraints on foreign assistance; 
Whereas regardless of the stated intent of the Government of 
the Russian Federation, the restrictions in this legislation 
will impose disabling restraints on the establishment, op-
erations, and activities of nongovernmental organizations 
and on civil society throughout the Russian Federation; 
Whereas the stated concerns of the Government of the Rus-
sian Federation regarding the use of nongovernmental or-
ganizations by foreign interests and intelligence agencies 
to undermine the Government of the Russian Federation 
and the security of the Russian Federation as a whole 
can be addressed by more limited and appropriate meas-
ures; 
Whereas the proposed legislation has already passed its first 
reading in the State Duma and is scheduled for its sec-
ond reading on an expedited basis; 
Whereas Russia’s many tragedies and the suffering of her 
people in the past centuries were made deeper and more 
enduring by the Russian Government’s distancing of the 
country from the West and rejection of its practices and 
institutions;
•HCON 312 IH 
Whereas Russia’s destiny and the interests of her people lie 
in her assumption of her rightful place as a full and 
equal member of the Western community of democracies; 
and 
Whereas the proposed measures of the Government of the 
Russian Federation are incompatible with membership in 
that community: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress— 
(1) urges the Government of the Russian Fed-
eration to withdraw the proposed legislation that 
would have the effect of severely restricting the es-
tablishment, operations, and activities of domestic 
and foreign nongovernmental organizations in the 
Russian Federation or to modify the legislation to 
ensure the unobstructed establishment and free and 
autonomous operations and activities of such non-
governmental organizations in accordance with the 
practices universally adopted by the Western democ-
racies, including the provisions regarding foreign as-
sistance; and 
(2) in the event the proposed legislation is not 
withdrawn or sufficiently modified, urges the State 
Duma and the Federation Council of the Federal 
Assembly to amend the measures contained in the 
legislation to ensure these same freedoms. 
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