Joe Pitts: “I also rise out of concern for the human rights situation in Russia. Yesterday, the Government of Russia took a giant…”

“I also rise out of concern for the human rights situation in Russia. Yesterday, the Government of Russia took a giant step backwards in human rights as Vladimir Goussinsky, the CEO of Media Most, was arrested, imprisoned and is at present being interrogated. So much for freedom of speech and freedom of the press in Russia. Mr. Goussinsky has been the most pro-Western and independent of Russia's media entrepreneurs and has rallied strong support for democratic reforms in Russia. This arrest comes on the heels of the raid of Media Most offices several weeks ago and demonstrates how human rights, particularly freedom of the press, is deteriorated under the administration of President Putin. The Putin administration has taken extreme measures to control information. Government officials report about the 'problem' of the media giving airtime and print space to views of 'terrorists.' Mr. Speaker, expressing political and religious views, even if it is in opposition to the government, is not terrorism. It is freedom. I urge the Russian people to speak out against the latest abuse of freedom by the Putin administration and call on President Clinton to pressure the administration to release Mr. Goussinsky.”