Transcripts For CSPAN2 Senators Rubio And Cardin Discuss Hum

[inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] good morning, everyone. Welcome to the Atlantic Council. Im paula dobriansky, im on the executive committee of the Atlantic Council board and i would want to commend the councils Eurasia Center for todays program which is entitled the state of human rights and putins russia. As many of you know the center has been extremely active and a vigorous voice on a range of issues from russias disinformation to the issue of ukraine, the scale and scope of the aggression in ukraine and the illegal annexation of crimea. Todays forum is particularly timing. Russia has experienced the worst crack that in human rights in decades. And we have three keynote speakers who will be up first, and all of whom are making a difference in their own way. Their strong, outspoken advocates for freedom and basic human rights in russia. Im going to introduce the first three and then will be having a panel afterwards which will be moderated by Alina Polyakova and she will introduce the pain of the spirit but first were going to be hearing, im going to introduce all three, will be hearing from maryland senior senator ben cardin, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who just this week condemned the arrest of hundreds of peaceful demonstrators in moscow. He is the cosponsor of the global magnet ski human rights accountability act which empowers United States to deny human rights abusers and also those corrupt officials entry into United States and access to our financial institution. Following him will be hearing from floridas senator marco rubio also a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who earlier this year on february 27, the day that the former deputy Prime Minister of russia, boris, was gunned down right in front of the kremlin. Senator rubio introduced legislation that would designate the street in front of the Russian Embassy as boris plaza in honor of the former deputy Prime Minister and opposition leader. The senator said quote consecration of the plaza would permanently remind putins regime and the russian people that their dissident views live on and the defenders of liberty will not be silenced. And then we will hear from vladimir, who is known to everyone in this room and out of this room whose life has been twice threatened. He was in russia just again recently and he was there traveling to sell the russian cities to present a documentary on boris. He abruptly became ill, was hospitalized. His friends, family, those of us in this room here that he was targeted with poison. And i have to say to all of us who know him and have worked with them, hes a man of courage. Hes a personal strength of convictions, deep convictions, and a very fervent desire to see a democratic russia where fundamental freedoms are protected. Vladimir is vice chair of open Russian Movement and also chairman of the Boris Nemtsov foundation for freedom, and we are very honored that he is able to be here with us today. I also like to recognize his wife who also is here, it was also truly a person of courage as well in this fight. So without further ado please join in a very vigorous applause for these very three distinguished speakers. Senator cardin. [applause] Mattapan Bassett are, first of thank you very much for the very generous and kind introduction. Madam ambassador. Particularly to be with my colleague and friend, senator rubio. One of the real great leaders in the United States senate on so many issues but today on human rights. Theres not a greater champion. I served with him on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and i must tell you im so proud to serve on the committee with him. He raises to everyone who comes before us that the critical questions on support for basic human rights senator rubio, its a pleasure to be with you as always, and thank you for your chairmanship on these issues. But to my friend, vladimir, two of us, senator rubio and i speak out that we know we are safe. You have the courage that is incredible on behalf of the russian people and the world community. And we thank you. We think your wife, what to do is an inspiration to all of us and it keeps us, gives us the energy to pursue these causes here in the United States, so thank you for being the person that you are. An inspiration. I see also my former colleague. Nice to see you, that youre here in the audience and its good to be with so many friends. When history of america is written about this period of time, i believe it will speak very strongly about americas greatness and it wont be americas greatness for its military power. It will be americas greatness in promoting universal goals. The goals of good governance, anticorruption, and the goals of supporting human rights, speaking out on behalf of Democratic Institutions. And it was americas strength that brought down the grip of the soviet union and liberated central and Eastern Europe. Thats whats going to be i think the key to how were proceed historically as to what we did during this particular time. And we saw the power of those ideas. We saw the power of those ideas this past weekend when the russians took to the streets to protest against their corrupt government. They were doing what my dear friend john lewis said here john and i came the congress the same time and hes an inspiration to me as a Living Legend to his fight on civil rights turkey said sometimes people just have to speak out. They have to raise their voices. They have to move their feet. And we saw that happen in russia this past weekend where thousands turned out to say no, we want a government that reflects the people of russia, not a corrupt government. And that action will bring about a change in russia. Russia will return to its greatness of a country that respects the rights of its citizens. And vladimir is actions is helping bring that day a little sooner than it otherwise would be. Human rights are not a western imposition but a russian demand. Thats what were trying to promote is its not about the russian people. Its about mr. Putin and his corrupt system that we are fighting. This is not a new idea. 1975, the European Community along with United States came together with a 1975 helsinki final accords. Ive been active with the Helsinki Commission since my election to Congress Many years ago. It was a concept that pointed out that we have a right to expect that countries will adhere not only to military security and Economic Security but the basic human rights. And thats not just an internal matter. All the signatories to the helsinki have a right to challenge the commitments being adhered to by any member state, including their commitment to basic human rights. Rush is violating those commitments every single day in somebody different ways. If youre a journalist in russia, you know that you cannot operate with safety. You know that your life are at risk. If youre in opposition you know that you better watch your back, as weve seen assassination after assassination and intimidation after intimidation. If youre in gld know you will be, undesirable for Organization Even though youre there to promote global issues. You know that corruption in the judicial system, corruption is called the lubricant of the putin regime. It has enabled mr. Putin to carry out his autocratic procedures and the way that he operates. The election system itself is fraud, guaranteeing that the results will be what mr. Putin watts. Minorities are not safe, whether they are lgbt community, ethnic minorities, migrants. All are in jeopardy in todays putins russia. That needs to change. The question is why should we be concerned . There several reasons. First, this type of human rights violation, these types of corruption lead to instability in regimes and will make our world less safe. And secondly, weve seen mr. Putin is right to attack america. He did attack america. That is not even being disputed anymore i think by the president but mr. Putin attacked us. Attacked our free election system. Mr. Putins active in europe, active in montenegro. He was active, hes acted out in germany and in france trying to influence those elections. Hes trying to bring down our way of government to create more space so you can expand his influence, his type of leadership in europe and around the world. We cannot allow that type of debt to exist. We need to protect Democratic Institutions. So what should congress to . What should we do in order to stop that . One thing weve done is passed the law that makes it clear that those are participate in this type of contact we are not currently within by allowing them to visit our country and assets enter banking system. Today there are 44 individuals that are currently listed under that law. I want to thank tom for his incredible leadership on this issue in some other issues, income and out of government in helping us get this achieved. But theres more that we can do. And i along with 19 of my colleagues have filed the russian hostilities act. I want to thank senator rubio. It deals with the current challenges that russian is presenting to us. Russia, yes, it is violating basic human rights of its citizens. Its also attacking us as they did in our free elections. They also are anything but the sovereignty of other countries. Obviously we all know what they did in ukraine with the crimea in eastern ukraine. Also mulled over, georgia. Threatening a lot of our European Countries and of russian speaking populations. We need to make it clear to russia but that is not acceptable. Sanctions are affecting russia so we can strengthen the sanction regime against russia and the legislation that we have filed will do that. And he goes into any areas that we can strengthen by going into the energy sector, going into heavy finance their sovereign debt, have a deal with privatization. We can strengthen the resolve against russia, and our european allies understand the importance of this. We need to work with europe. Theres a second part of this bill which is equally important, if not more important. It defines an effort with our european allies to fight the russia, to so that we can sophisticated delay use all of our country together for strategy to counter allies that russia is doing in order to cause instability in so many countries around the world. Edit develops in a Democracy Initiative similar to Security Initiative that we have under nato to protect the Democratic Institutions of europe. They are under attack. We should share information. I met with the baltic leaders this week and he said thats great, we should do that. We have a plan but we havent coordinated with europe. We should coordinated between the United States and europe, a plan to protect our Democratic Institutions from the type of attacks nursing from russia. Its not just taking cyber information and using it to cover my elections. Its also false also news. We need to Work Together and we also need to pass legislation that sender review has been actively engage with me on, and it is the syrian war crimes. Mr. Putin is committing war crimes in syria. He is using humanitarian targets as a way of advancing his support for assad, and that type of conduct needs to be held accountable. Let me just conclude by quoting a person who i have a great deal of respect for, and thats vladimir. Vladimir testified before a committee in 2015. And he said then that he did not ask that the United States come to the support of russia. He wasnt asking for the turkey wasnt asking for our economic or military support. What he was asking us to do was not to make it easier for mr. Putin to carry out his ideals. Dont give him credibility. Dont acknowledge what he is doing is right. Just the opposite. Stand strong on u. S. Global principles because thats what the russian people need. They need america to be clear, strong, about the values that are universal that it made us the great nation that we are. I want you to know, vladimir, that you have our commitment that we are going to just that, that were going to stand up for the values of america. Were going to stand up for why this nation is a great nation it is. Were going to stand up to our helsinki commitments and we are going to stand strong with the people of russia. Thank you. [applause] i want to thank senator cardin for his kind words and for his introduction here today. Yes indeed been a part in many of these issues, so much so in the hallways of the senate when approached by the press and ask me, can you comment on the billiard and with senator cardin, which one . We worked on some of these issues that are so critically important it truly is an honor to work with him on these. At the outset, i was told vladimir i think Cindy Deckard has the same issue. In addition to a 10 oclock vote in us that we are two important hearings going on at the same time on two committees on the number of. What is the Foreign Relations committee with senator cardin is a Ranking Member on. The general topic of americas engagement in the world. Then the Senate Intelligence committee as a public hearing today on the topic that, well, i think you know what its on. And so we will need to get there on time. I also want to thank the Atlantic Council for hosting this event. The state of human rights in putins russia. I dont quarrel with the title. I understand the point but its not putins russia. Its russians russia. Vladimir putin happens to have control of thegovernment today but rush is not a Vladimir Putin. Russia is an ancient, proud culture and tradition embedded in its people. Vladimir putin just happens to be a tyrant that today controls its government. But i thank you for inviting me to participate in this event. I also course and proud to be with Vladimir Karamurza you all know well adequate of a chance and honor to introduce them shortly. When we talk about evil around the world who risk their lives in the event of freedom, vladimir is an example of how true this is. His brave fight for democracy and freedom in his country is truly an inspiration. We have an award in america called profiles in courage and its hardly given to someone who took political risk. Mightve lost an election took on some nasty critters and in the press for doing something. And i understand, relatively speaking that is, courage in the american political system. Real courage is knowing that your position on politics could have you killed, exiled, or both, and poisoned not once but twice. Im honored to be with him today. The stated human rights and a Vladimir Putin inrush of course has long been severe decline, deterioration is only settlement in recent years as putin and his cronies have cracked down on Civil Society company d, anyone critical the russian government when times are tough in russia of course are now, this happens and this is what happens there, and abysmal human rights situation that becomes even worse. Yet seen over the last number of years Vladimir Putins critics mysteriously poisoned, many occasions on multiple occasions thrown out of windows, murdered. All this just this year alone and we are only in march. Vladimir recently survived a course a second, his second apparent poisoning attempt. The government has implement it dr. Cohen inlaws attempting to bar public dissent. Just as we can we watched as thousands of her dumbly very Young Russians took to the street to protest corruption within the putin government. To make clear that the people of russia and what they want is a transparent government that respects the voices in shaping the future. So what was the response of the putin government . The arrested and detained hundreds of people. This is only the latest incident reminds us how critical it is that the United States stand with the russian people in their fight against a brutal, corrupt, oppressive regime. This behavior by the putin regime is nothing new. In 2015 russian authorities began intimating a 2012 lot of places in Advocacy Group that accepts foreign funding on a list as foreign agents. Many nongovernmental organizations either spend resources defending themselves against these attacks and labels of being a foreign agent, or they simply close. Each year he tightened his grip on the country as he tries to mask the abuses against his own people with aggression outside of russia. Globally, putin has made clear his intention on the world stage. He wants to establish spheres of influence in europe, and now the middle east. And what that is meant is him aligning with the most brutal tyrants and regimes in the world to undermine not just america, but the peaceful nations of the world interests. And in the process to perpetuate war crimes. Hes actively working to drive a wedge between western allies and within western institutions