Senate must send signal to Russia

Politico

McFaul faces many challenges — and Russian leaders will likely make the job more difficult. Russian officials have recently declared that they may soon aim mid-range missiles at Europe, threatened to close a critical supply line into Afghanistan and blocked U.N. Security Council sanctions of a murderous regime in Syria. These facts only serve to increase the urgency in getting him to Moscow.

Second, once McFaul is confirmed, the Senate can give him new soft power tools that can underscore U.S. support for the Russian people and their calls for freedom and democracy.

I am to chair a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing Wednesday on human rights and the rule of law in Russia. The panel is scheduled to discuss the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act, introduced by Sen. Ben Cardin and co-sponsored by me and 24 other senators. This bill was designed to address the tragic case of Magnitsky, a Russian lawyer who died following wrongful imprisonment for exposing corruption in Russia.
The legislation denies a U.S. visa to any person believed responsible for major human rights violations in Russia. It could help in strengthening Russian civil society efforts aimed at greater government transparency, protecting civil and human rights and a guaranteed voice in the political process.
The State Department disclosed this summer that it has barred dozens of Russian officials from traveling to the U.S. because of their alleged involvement in the Magnitsky case.
McFaul has personally done much to shine light on this case — meeting with Magnitsky’s wife in Moscow and speaking at the premiere of a documentary about him. The administration’s efforts should be commended, and we look forward to working with them to institutionalize this diplomatic tool.
The complex U.S. – Russia relationship is marked at times by mutual interests and at others by diametrically opposed principles and ideals. We need our strongest, most capable civil servants in Moscow now, and we must give them effective diplomatic tools to pursue our security interests and promote our values. McFaul is one such strong civil servant, and the Magnitsky bill can be a crucial tool.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. buy over the counter medicines онлайн займ zp-pdl.com www.zp-pdl.com микрозаймы онлайн