Graham to Introduce Putin War Crimes Resolution
WASHINGTON — Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Wednesday said he will introduce a Senate resolution calling for Russian President Vladimir Putin to be charged with war crimes and other human rights abuses related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“This is a defining moment for the rule of law and how it can make the world a better place,” Graham said during a late-morning briefing for reporters.
“For the last 20 years-plus, Vladimir Putin has maintained power by imprisoning his opponents, and by assassinating people who disagree with him,” Graham said. “The Russian state has collapsed. The Duma is a puppet. The courts have been neutered. And it is now time for him to pay.
“The world has let him get away with too much for too long. He’s stolen the Russian people blind. He’s murdered Russian citizens to maintain his iron grip on the country. This resolution supports Ukraine’s war crimes complaint to the International Criminal Court and is a chance to change behavior to stop Putin’s madness,” he continued.
“The resolution supports the investigation of Putin as a war criminal and urges the ICC and ICJ to expand their investigation to include Russian military commanders carrying out the war crimes,” he said.
Joining Graham at the podium in the Senate Radio and TV Gallery in the U.S. Capitol was Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., a Ukrainian-born American who has family members directly in the path of the invasion.
“These are very challenging times,” she said. “This is not a war. It is a genocide and the destruction and killing of a people. … and yet all of these people say, ‘You know what? We don’t cry any more. We don’t cry. Just give us some guns and we’ll fight. And we are going to win.’
“Putin understands that … and [it’s] the reason he’s so intent on destroying most of Ukraine’s cities,” she said.
Spartz said a resolution similar to one Graham is introducing in the Senate is also in the works for the House.
“How do you hurt him most?” Graham said of Putin. “Subject him to the rule of law. When it comes to dictators, you need to make it personal.”
The senator also had a message to the Russian people, though he prefixed them by acknowledging, “I doubt you can hear my words.”
“Our fight is not with you. You are a victim of Putin as much as anyone and maybe more than most,” he said. “I just want to let you understand that we understand the difference between the Russian people and the actions of your president.
“But we are going to need your help,” he continued. “In bringing justice to the table, you are going to have to suffer. There is no way to bring this to heel without tremendous economic sanctions and without arming our friends in Ukraine.”
The Graham resolution:
- Strongly condemns the ongoing violence, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and systematic human rights abuses continually being carried out by the Russian Armed Forces and their proxies and Putin’s military commanders, at the direction of Vladimir Putin.
- Encourages nations to take any and all action to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Russian Security Council, the Russian Armed Forces and their proxies, and Putin’s military commanders, at the direction of Putin.
- Supports any investigation into war crimes, crimes against humanity, and systematic human rights abuses levied by Putin, the Russian Security Council, the Russian Armed Forces and their proxies, and Putin’s military commanders.
- Encourages the United States Government and partner nations to use its voice, vote, and influence in international institutions in which they are members to hold Putin, the Russian Security Council, the Russian Armed Forces and their proxies, and Putin’s military commanders accountable for their sponsorship of ongoing violence, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and systematic human rights abuses.
“One reason history repeats itself is that we fail to learn from the mistakes of the past,” Graham said. “I can only imagine what would have changed if in the 1930s the world had spoken forcefully to condemn Hitler for his atrocities within Germany and surrounding areas. We have a chance to chart a new path with this resolution.”
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