Murkowski cosponsors Senate resolution backing Russian democracy advocates

The Senate is being asked to declare that supporting Russian pro-democracy groups is in the American national interest. Under Russian law, the people it would support can go to prison for six years for accepting that support.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen introduced the resolution Wednesday. It commends Russian civil society and independent media for exposing crimes committed by Vladimir Putin's government and for pursuing accountability. Sen. Lisa Murkowski is one of five cosponsors, along with Roger Wicker, Susan Collins, Tim Kaine and Thom Tillis.

Russia has designated more than 350 foreign and international organizations as "undesirable," and taking part in or assisting their work carries up to six years in prison. The Royal United Services Institute warns that foreign backing can itself raise the danger to activists inside the country. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov describes this kind of American support as interference.

Congress has said something similar before, in the Russian Democracy Act of 2002. More recently, both Alaska senators voted for the Russia sanctions bill the Senate passed 86-11 on Aug. 7.

The resolution went to the Foreign Relations Committee the day it was introduced. There has been no floor action.