Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll be as brief as I can.
The motion states:
That the Subcommittee on International Human Rights initiate a study of actions taken by the Government of Ukraine to suppress political dissent, free speech, freedom of the press, and academic freedom in Ukraine. The study will focus on allegations of wrongdoing by Government of Ukraine officials and implicated bodies in cases including, but not limited to:
- the murder of independent journalist Georgy Gongadze and the case of editor and investigative journalist, Vasyl Klymentyev, who is missing and feared dead;
- recent imprisonment and launching of criminal investigations and imprisonment against opposition party members including former Presidential candidate Yuliya Tymoshenko;
- actions taken to remove the autonomy of academic institutions, and harassment and intimidation of the academic community, focusing on historians who draw attention to Ukrainian national resistance to Soviet rule;
- the use of improper election tactics in local elections of October 31, 2010.
I've had conversations with all members, Mr. Chair, with regard to support for this motion.