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On the First Anniversary of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine, Congressman Cohen Reintroduces Resolution Denouncing Russian Actions as Genocide

February 24, 2023

Congressman Cohen observes the milestone by calling for accountability

WASHINGTONCongressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, observed the one-year anniversary of Putin’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by reintroducing a resolution condemning Russian actions in Ukraine as a genocide under applicable international laws.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement regarding Ukraine:

“One year ago today, we watched in horror as Putin began the largest land war in Europe since WWII. He thought it would be a quick and easy victory, but he was wrong. Ukraine has showed remarkable courage and NATO is stronger than ever. We must demand accountability for the crimes committed by Putin and his corrupt, war-mongering regime. The first necessary step is to recognize his actions for what they are: genocide. That is why I’m reintroducing my resolution that does just that.”

The resolution introduced today reads in part that “substantial and significant evidence documenting widespread, systematic actions against the Ukrainian people committed by Russian forces under the direction of Russian Federation political leadership meets one or more of the criteria under Article II of the Genocide Convention.”

It adds that, “the Russian Federation’s state-level intent in favor of these heinous crimes against humanity has been demonstrated through frequent pronouncements and other forms of official communication denying Ukrainian nationhood and sovereignty, including President Putin’s ahistorical claims that Ukraine is part of a ‘single whole’ Russian nation with ‘no historical basis’ for being an independent country.”

The resolution calls on the House of Representatives to condemn the Russian Federation for “committing acts of genocide” against the Ukrainian people; to call on the United States, in cooperation with North Atlantic Treaty Organization and European Union allies, to undertake measures “to support the Ukrainian Government to prevent further acts of Russian genocide” against the Ukrainian people; and to support “tribunals and international criminal investigations to hold Russian political leaders and military personnel to account for a war of aggression, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.”

Congressman Cohen also applauds President Biden’s recent visit to Ukraine, the first trip by a modern president to a war zone not under American control, as a strong show of solidarity and of our continued commitment.

See the entire resolution here.

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