Russian lawmaker assailed for U.S. visit

The Washington Post ^ | March 15, 2013 | Kathy Lally

[cunning_fish]

MOSCOW — Early this month, a young opposition-minded member of the Russian parliament spoke for about 10 minutes at a Capitol Hill conference on U.S.-Russia relations. Back home, it’s as if he was found with the Kremlin plans in his boots, ready to hand them over to the CIA.

On Friday, the deputy speaker of the lower house of parliament asked the ethics committee to investigate Dmitri Gudkov. He accused the 33-year-old Duma member of calling for American interference in Russia’s domestic affairs — treachery at its worst here and something President Vladimir Putin often warns against. No doubt Gudkov had access to secret material, complained Sergei Zheleznyak, the deputy speaker and a member of the ruling United Russia party, and his cooperation with the United States could damage Russian security. And if that weren’t enough, Gudkov spoke English.

Left unsaid: Gudkov was one of eight members who refused to vote for a ban on American adoptions, which was approved in apparent response to the Magnitsky law that the U.S. Congress enacted last year imposing visa and financial sanctions on corrupt Russians.

[cunning_fish]

Gudkov took part in a March 4 conference sponsored by three U.S.

Beijing’s foreign policy picks will

organizations promoting democracy

reflect rising tensions with U.S.,

and human rights — Freedom

William Wan MAR 15

House, the Foreign Policy Initiative

Likely new state councilor,

and the Institute of Modern Russia.

foreign minister have devoted careers to China’s relations

He was in what Russian authorities

with two countries.

would consider dangerous company

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— Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.),

preserve Chavez’s legacy — and

an author of the Magnitsky Act, and Lyudmila Alexeyeva, the 85-year-

Juan Forero 6:00 AM ET It may be too late to preserve

old leader of the Moscow Helsinki

Hugo Chavez’s remains as

Group. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-

some want.

Mass.) called her the rock star of the Russian human rights movement.

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And the topic? “New Approach or

Jason Horowitz MAR 15 The Vatican spokesman called

Business as Usual — U.S.-E.U.-Russia

“Dirty War” allegations the work of “anti-clerical left-wing

relations after Putin’s crackdown.”

elements.”

Gudkov called the Duma a rubber

Netanyahu forms Israeli government

stamp. He described the fabrication

Joel Greenberg MAR 15

of criminal cases against protesters,

A last-minute dispute that held

meant to intimidate others. He

up a formal coalition agreement was resolved overnight.

urged a moderate approach to relations with Russia. Ordinary

Russia attacks lawmaker for U.S.

Russians, he said, support the Magnitsky Act.

Kathy Lally MAR 15 Duma leader seeks ethics probe because opposition

Last fall, Gudkov’s father, Gennady

deputy Gudkov spoke at Capitol

Gudkov, a former KGB officer-

Hill conference.

turned-democrat, was expelled from the lower house on the grounds that he operated a business in violation of Duma rules. On Wednesday, A Just Russia expelled the two Gudkovs from the party.

In a radio interview Friday, the younger Gudkov was unabashed. He had stated nothing in Washington that he had not proclaimed many times in Moscow, he said. His hosts were supportive.

“Mr. Gudkov came, paying his own expenses,” Ellen Bork, director of human rights at the Foreign Policy Initiative, said by e-mail, “to speak in a country where freedoms of thought and speech are permitted and respected.”

[doc1019]

I guess the old Soviet Union is coming back. Wouldn’t bother me so much if we had a President in office that had our interests at heart.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks cunning_fish.

Gudkov was one of eight members who refused to vote for a ban on American adoptions, which was approved in apparent response to the Magnitsky law that the U.S. Congress enacted last year imposing visa and financial sanctions on corrupt Russians.