TLHRC Co-Chairs Lead Passage of U.S. House Resolution Condemning Poisoning of Russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a resolution introduced by Congressman James P. McGovern (D- MA) and cosponsored by Congressman Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), co-chairs of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, that condemns the brutal poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and calls for a robust response from the United States and the international community.

H. Res. 1145 urges the U.S. to support a thorough and impartial international investigation into the August 20, 2020 attack on Navalny and impose sanctions on those found responsible. Navalny's near-fatal poisoning by a military-grade nerve agent from the Novichok family is the latest example of the Russian government's relentless persecution of opposition politicians, journalists and human rights defenders. Navalny was attacked twice with a chemical substance in 2017 and likely poisoned in 2019 while imprisoned. Other victims have been killed or died under mysterious circumstances.

"It is important that the House go on record in a bipartisan way to send a clear and unequivocal message to the Kremlin that we reject their criminal tactics and we will demand accountability," Rep. McGovern said on the House floor. "There must be consequences for this egregious act."

The resolution calls on the U.S. government to raise Navalny's poisoning in all its interactions with Russian authorities and support a review of whether the attack constituted a use of a chemical weapon in violation of international law.

The full text of the resolution is available here.