Thank you very much for being here, and i want to thank him because he graciously allowed to have the subcommittee hearing and for me to be able to chair it. This is a discussion really important to so many of us here and so many of our colleagues. Information is power today, and we see it all over the globe when its used improperly, hes used as a weapon. Democracies like ours require a well informed electorate, but our enemies are increasingly trying to undermine that principle through socalled disinformation campaigns designed to mislead voters. Malign actors like russia systematically exploit social media, radio, television, and print to twist facts to suit their needs and distort the truth to an unsuspecting populous. Its not just about elections. We see it today with regard to the coronavirus and misinformation thats being spread. Its an interesting tactic because its inexpensive and yet can be very effective. It has a high degree of deniability. Its anonymous almost always and if
Moscow utilizes Digital Technologies to target us and our democratic allies from within. It includes election meddling and influenced operations directed by the highest levels of the russian government the very heart of the western world. We provided significant foreign assistance in europe and eurasia, almost all of which supports building resilience to an increasing pressure on russian malign influence in accordance with the fine. The department has increased his support for the Global Engagement center through additional funding and tapping. We have degraded prudence costs. By imposing the administration a section 321 russiarelated individuals and entities in january 2017. These sanctions and related action serve as a warning to the russian government that we will not tolerate inactivity aimed at undermining or manipulating our 2020 election. I confronted Deputy Foreign minister on russian interference in our elections in july and have raise the matter with Russian Ambassador severa
The committee will come to order. Thank you all for coming today and to the witnesses for joining us today as we examine the current state of the u. S. Russia relationship and the strategy to deal with the Russian Federation. Its timely to assess the relationship with russia and as weve recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of the events that led to the collapse of the soviet union, the fall of the berlin wall, solidarity, selection, victory in poland and the baltic demonstrations among others. Many former soviet states had become prosperous democracies with memberships in nato and the eu. Mr. Putin has taken russia down a much darker path. Today Many Russians suffer with oligarchs enriching themselves to control the major industries. Russia rates its elections to ensure onlensure a week from und politician speak the cut. Russia is targeted and expelled humanitarian organizations and three Media Outlets labeling them as foreign agents. The russian people are in humanity imprisoned a
D if they are working. Y are this is about two hours 20 minutes. s. [inaudible conversations] the committee will come to order. Thank you, all for coming today and thank you to our witnesses for joining us today as we examine the current relationship with russia. To assess our relationship with russia as we have recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of events that led to the collapse of the soviet union, the fall of the berlin wall, the election victory of solidarity in poland. Among others. Many former soviet states have become prosperous democracies with memberships in nato and the eu. Mr. Vladimir putin has taken russia down a darker pass. Any russians suffered today. Tosia rates its elections make sure that only kremlin approved politicians make the cut. The russian people are inhumanely imprisoned and tortured for daring to disagree with the government. Not only does the Russia Federation make life at home painful for the average russian, but Vladimir Putin is making life hard
The committee will come to order. Thank you all for coming today and to the witnesses for joining us today as we examine the current state of the u. S. Russia relationship and the strategy to deal with the Russian Federation. Its timely to assess the relationship with russia and as weve recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of the events that led to the collapse of the soviet union, the fall of the berlin wall, solidarity, selection, victory in poland and the baltic demonstrations among others. Many former soviet states had become prosperous democracies with memberships in nato and the eu. Mr. Putin has taken russia down a much darker path. Today Many Russians suffer with oligarchs enriching themselves to control the major industries. Russia rates its elections to ensure onlensure a week from und politician speak the cut. Russia is targeted and expelled humanitarian organizations and three Media Outlets labeling them as foreign agents. The russian people are in humanity imprisoned a