Political Quotes

On the recordSeptember 22, 2015
H. Res. 50, introduced by Representative Levin, calls for the release of former Ukrainian fighter pilot Nadiya Savchenko, who has been languishing in Russian prisons since she was abducted by pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine in 2014, and illegally transferred across the border in handcuffs and with a bag over her head. Since she was incarcerated on specious and unsubstantiated charges, Nadiya has endured interrogations, involuntary psychiatric evaluations and solitary confinement. She spent four months on a hunger strike as a symbol of protest, ending it last April. Her trial opened today. Nadiya is yet another victim of the Putin regime's brutality. We must recognize that this isn't just about her, but also represents a very visible manifestation of Russia's aggression towards a Ukraine that wishes to remain free, independent, and democratic. Nadiya is a symbol for the struggle of Ukraine. Madam Speaker, Nadiya Savchenko was elected in absentia to the Ukrainian Parliament in October and was named a member of Ukraine's delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. As such, she enjoys diplomatic immunity. With its illegal annexation of Crimea and the war in eastern Ukraine, Russia has made a mockery of its international commitments, including all ten core OSCE principles enshrined in the 1975 Helsinki Final Act.…
Said by
Chris Smith
Republican · New Jersey

Share & report

More from Chris Smith

Mar 13, 2024

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by our colleagues Mike Gallagher and Raja Krishnamoorthi. It is aimed at…

govinfo.gov
Nov 2, 2023

I thank my good friend for yielding and for her leadership on protecting Israel and providing them the means to protect themselves. Mr. Speaker, our great friend and ally, Israel, with assistance from the U.S., continues to respond to the…

govinfo.gov
Nov 29, 2022

I thank my good friend for yielding me time. I am especially grateful that she has introduced the Uyghur Policy Act, which is particularly timely given the mass spontaneous protests we see arising in China. It is particularly pertinent…

govinfo.gov
Dec 13, 2022

I thank my good friend for yielding and for his leadership, and I thank my friend on the other side of the aisle for his support. Madam Speaker, in late March 2019, University of South Carolina senior Samantha Josephson--``Sami'' to…

govinfo.gov

Other voices in this conversation