Sam Brownback: “as chairman of the Helsinki Commission, I am pleased to recognize the accomplishments of the Moscow Helsinki Group…”

“as chairman of the Helsinki Commission, I am pleased to recognize the accomplishments of the Moscow Helsinki Group, which will mark the 30th anniversary of its founding later this week in the Russian capital. I particularly want to acknowledge the tremendous courage of the men and women who--at great personal risk-- established the group to hold the Soviet Government accountable for implementing the human rights commitment Moscow has signed onto in the historic Helsinki Final Act. Today, the Moscow Helsinki Group is the oldest of human rights organizations active in the Russian Federation. Having played a pivotal role in the struggle for human rights during the Soviet period, the group continues to work tirelessly for the cause of human rights, democracy, and rule of law throughout Russia. When, on behalf of the United States, President Ford signed the Helsinki Accords in August 1975, he was criticized in some circles for supposedly having accepted Soviet control and domination of Eastern Europe in return for what some viewed as worthless promises on human rights. Ultimately, the skeptics were proven wrong. The Helsinki Accords did not legitimize the Soviet conquest of Eastern Europe at the end of World War II.…”