Heinrich Cosponsors Resolution Calling For War Crimes Accountability

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and a bipartisan group of senators led by U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) introduced a Senate resolution calling for Vladimir Putin and members of his regime to be held accountable for the numerous acts of war, aggression, and human rights abuses that have been conducted under his watch.

“Russia’s unjustified, unprovoked aggression against Ukraine must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. Vladimir Putin and his regime must be held accountable by the international community for their war crimes, their human rights abuses, and their indefensible attack on the people and democracy of Ukraine,” said Heinrich.

The 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 President Putin’s military commanders, at the direction of President Vladimir Putin.
• Encourages nations to take any and all action to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Russian Armed Forces and their proxies, and President Putin’s military commanders, at the direction of President Vladimir Putin.
• Supports any investigation into war crimes, crimes against humanity, and systematic human rights abuses levied by President Vladimir Putin, the Russian Security Council, the Russian Armed Forces and their proxies, and President 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 President Vladimir Putin, the Russian Security Council, the Russian Armed Forces and their proxies, and President Putin’s military commanders accountable for their sponsorship of ongoing violence, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and systematic human rights abuses.

The resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Angus King (I-Maine), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

Senator Heinrich and a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues also led a successful effort to have the Biden administration grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Ukrainians in the United States following the Russian military invasion of Ukraine. The Biden administration announced their plans to move forward with granting TPS to Ukrainians on Thursday, March 3.

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