Ben Sasse: “I rise to express my concern about troubling new developments in Russia. Russia's Parliament, the Federal Assembly, has…”

“I rise to express my concern about troubling new developments in Russia. Russia's Parliament, the Federal Assembly, has just approved so-called antiterrorism legislation that actually criminalizes free speech and that attacks religious liberty. If President Putin signs this legislation into law in the coming weeks, it will be illegal for Christians to share their faith outside of the church building, as if faith is constrained by the four walls of a structure and belief by a single day of the week on the calendar. In some ways, sadly, this isn't a surprise. There is a lot that is wrong with Russia. We are witnessing a rising authoritarianism in a declining State--a rising authoritarianism in a declining State. Moscow routinely tramples on the rights of the press, tramples on assembly, speech, on dissent, and on national sovereignty. Ask the families of murdered journalists. Ask the student groups facing intimidation. Ask the political dissidents who fear imprisonment. Ask the Ukrainian people who fear being fully overrun. Why is this happening? Because Putin and his cronies think they can make Russia great again by hoarding wealth, by abusing power, and by crushing any and all dissent and opposition. They strike the pose of a strong man, but this is not real strength. True strength is rooted in virtue: selflessness and sacrifice on behalf of the weak and the oppressed. Mr.…”