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Representatives Cohen, Wilson, Veasey, Hudson, Lieu, Fitzpatrick, Gallego, Salazar and Kaptur Reintroduce the HARM Act

January 25, 2023

Bipartisan measure would hold Russian mercenaries accountable for their crimes

WASHINGTON – Representatives Steve Cohen (TN-09), Joe Wilson (SC-02), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Richard Hudson (NC-09), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Ruben Gallego (AZ-03), María Elvira Salazar (FL-27), and Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) today introduced the Holding Accountable Russian Mercenaries (HARM) Act, bipartisan legislation that would require the Secretary of State to designate the Russian-based Wagner Group as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). The bill was first introduced in the 117th Congress, along with a companion measure in the Senate led by U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Ben Cardin, D-Md.

The Wagner Group’s predatory and terroristic activities since 2014 in Ukraine, Mali, Sudan, and the Central African Republic have been characterized by deliberate violations of human rights and atrocities in the service of the strategic goals of the Putin regime. A para-military organization that employs thousands of mercenaries, the Wagner Group has been accused of committing heinous acts of violence and human rights violations against civilians including killings, kidnapping, committing acts of torture, human trafficking and murdering and threatening of journalists. The Wagner Group has also received weapons from North Korea, a designated State Sponsor of Terrorism.

“Where the Wagner Group operates, atrocities follow. The HARM Act will identify Putin’s private mercenary group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and let the world know that its activities are both malign and illegal. It’s time to shine some light on this infamous group and label it with the HARM-ful reputation it deserves,” said Congressman Steve Cohen, a senior member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission.

“While I recognize the Biden administration’s movement forward in announcing new sanctions against the Wagner Group, it does not go far enough. For too long the Wagner Group has been engaging in nefarious atrocities around the globe, all at the behest of war criminal Putin and his cronies. Therefore, I’m grateful to join my bipartisan colleagues in re-introducing legislation that will finally designate the group as the foreign terrorist organization it is and expose them in their true state as a murderous, criminal enterprise,” said Congressman Joe Wilson.

“The Wagner Group's mercenaries are doing Vladimir Putin's bidding around the world. This critical legislation will take steps to hold this dangerous group accountable for the atrocities that they commit and help put a stop to future violent crimes from occurring,” said Congressman Marc Veasey. 

“The Wagner Group is a threat to the interests and security of the United States, our allies, and its partners,” said Congressman Richard Hudson. “We must hold those responsible for perpetrating Putin’s war against Ukraine and atrocities elsewhere accountable. Designating this mercenary group a Foreign Terrorist Organization will give prosecutors new tools to go after Wagner and those who enable its nefarious activities across the world.”

“It is beyond time to hold the Wagner Group accountable for their horrific international terrorist activity, said Congressman Ted Lieu. “Human rights organizations and United Nations investigators have found evidence of grievous human rights abuses committed by the Wagner Group in conflict zones around the world. The HARM Act would finally call the Wagner Group what they are—a foreign terrorist organization that threatens the safety and security of the United States and our allies. I am pleased to join my colleagues to champion this important legislation.”

“As we near the one-year anniversary of Russia’s brutal, illegal invasion of Ukraine, it is crucial to remove as many of Putin’s resources as possible. The Wagner Group has been allowed to carry out a brutal agenda for too long, with no consequences, and it is time for the US to appropriately designate them as a Foreign Terrorist Organization,” said Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick. “The HARM Act will ensure that this organization is correctly identified as a murderous organization, and I’m proud to join my colleagues on this bipartisan, bicameral legislation.”

“While Ukrainians stand up for freedom and democracy, the Wagner Group stands with authoritarian regimes like Russia,” said Congressman Ruben Gallego. “The United States must remain united in rebuking mercenary terrorist organizations like the Wagner Group. Declaring them a Foreign Terrorist Organization is a commonsense step to hold them accountable for their atrocities in Ukraine and across the globe.”

“The Wagner Group are ruthless mercenaries and terrorists that kill indiscriminately and do Putin’s bidding,” said Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar. “Their reach goes well beyond Europe and Asia, helping dictators like Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela hold on to power at all costs.”

“The Wagner Group must be held accountable for their treasonous actions with Putin and long standing tyranny. The Biden Administration is taking the right step to be proactive with their newly announced sanctions on the Wagner Group, however we have more work to do. I appreciate my bipartisan colleagues who have joined in the re-introduction of this legislation to hold this terrorist organization accountable for their actions against the sovereign nation of Ukraine. We must use every tool at our disposal to stand with Ukraine as they fight on the frontlines of Liberty,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur.

The HARM Act would require the Secretary of State to designate the Wagner Group as a FTO under section 219(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act within 90 days of enactment. The proposal also includes provisions that would apply the FTO designation to any affiliated or successor entity to the Wagner Group.

A Foreign Terrorist Organization designation would have significantly greater impact than previous designations of the Wagner Group and its leadership, in particular bringing into play criminal penalties for material support to the Wagner Group by entities across the world and allowing the United States to claim universal jurisdiction. The legislation follows action by the European Parliament calling for the Wagner Group to be included in the EU’s terrorist list.

Representatives Cohen, Wilson, Veasey, Hudson, Gallego and Fitzpatrick are all members of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, a U.S. government commission that promotes human rights, military security, and economic cooperation in 57 countries in Europe, Eurasia, and North America.  They are joined as co-leads to this bill by Representatives Lieu, Salazar and Kaptur.

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