Graham to Introduce Putin War Crimes Resolution

March 2, 2022 by Dan McCue
Graham to Introduce Putin War Crimes Resolution
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to be punished for war crimes.

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.”

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and at https://twitter.com/DanMcCue.

A+
a-
  • Lindsey Graham
  • war crimes
  • In The News

    Health

    Voting

    Geopolitics

    Poland's President Calls on NATO Allies to Raise Spending on Defense to 3% of GDP

    WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland's president on Monday called on other members of the NATO alliance to raise their spending... Read More

    WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland's president on Monday called on other members of the NATO alliance to raise their spending on defense to 3% of their gross domestic product as Russia puts its economy on a war footing and pushes forward with its invasion of Ukraine.... Read More

    US Adults Fracture Along Party Lines in Support for Ukraine Military Funding, AP-NORC Poll Finds

    WASHINGTON (AP) — As Russia makes battlefield advances and Ukrainian soldiers run short on ammunition, U.S. adults have become fractured along party... Read More

    WASHINGTON (AP) — As Russia makes battlefield advances and Ukrainian soldiers run short on ammunition, U.S. adults have become fractured along party lines in their support for sending military aid to Kyiv, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Democrats are more likely... Read More

    At Paris Gathering, Western Leaders to Show Unity for Ukraine and Signal 'Russia Cannot Win'

    PARIS (AP) — More than 20 European heads of state and government and other Western officials are gathering in a... Read More

    PARIS (AP) — More than 20 European heads of state and government and other Western officials are gathering in a show of unity for Ukraine, signaling to Russia that their support for Kyiv isn't wavering as the full-scale invasion grinds into a third year. French President Emmanuel Macron,... Read More

    Harris Repudiates Trump Worldview and Says the US Won't Back Down on Ukraine's Defense

    MUNICH (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday warned of the dangers of growing authoritarianism and isolationism in a... Read More

    MUNICH (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday warned of the dangers of growing authoritarianism and isolationism in a not-so-veiled repudiation of Donald Trump’s worldview and threats to renege on security guarantees for NATO allies should he return to the White House. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Harris offered... Read More

    Biden Warns Opposing Ukraine Funding Plays 'Into Putin's Hands,' but Faces Resistance in House

    WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday called for House Republicans to urgently bring a $95.3 billion aid package... Read More

    WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday called for House Republicans to urgently bring a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan to a vote, warning that refusal to take up the bill, passed by the Senate in the morning, would be "playing... Read More

    Biden Tells Congress to 'Show Some Spine' Against Trump as Border Security and Ukraine Aid Collapse

    WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday urged Congress to “show some spine” and stand up to Donald Trump... Read More

    WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday urged Congress to “show some spine” and stand up to Donald Trump even as a Senate deal on border enforcement measures and Ukraine aid was rapidly collapsing. The Democratic president has engaged for months with Senate leaders to... Read More

    News From The Well
    scroll top