This briefing discussed the repression against human rights activists in the Soviet Union. Chairman Fascell and Commissioner Leahy oversaw the testimony of several American lawyers representing imprisoned members of the Moscow-Helsinki Group detailing the abuses committed against their clients. Numerous documents from Soviet citizens were also submitted to the record documenting the Soviet authorities’ violations of the Helsinki Accords’ human rights provisions.
Members
Hon. Dante Fascell
Chairman
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Hon. Patrick Leahy
Commissioner
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Hon. Robert Dole
Commissioner
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Hon. Millicent Fenwick
Commissioner
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Witnesses
Edward Bennett Williams
Washington Trial Lawyer
American counsel for Aleksandr Ginzburg, imprisoned member of Moscow Helsinki Watch and administrator of Solzhenitsyn Fund for the Aid of Political Prisoners and their Families
Alan Dershowitz
Civil Liberties Activist, Harvard Law School
American counsel for Anatoly Shcharansky, imprisoned Jewish activist and member of the Moscow Helsinki Watch Group
Ramsey Clark
Former U.S. Attorney General, National Chairman, Advisory Committee ACLU
American counsel for Yuri Orlov, imprisoned founding member of the Moscow Helsinki Watch Group, and for Oleksiy Tykhy and Mykola Rudenko, two imprisoned members of the Ukrainian Helsinki Watch Group
George Fletcher
Professor, Expert on Comparative Legal Systems
UCLA Law School
Relevant Countries
Leadership

Silenced Dissent: The Plight of Political Prisoners ...
Jun 13, 2024WASHINGTON—Across the globe, individuals continue to be targeted, arrested, and imprisoned for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of speech, assembly, and association. Persecution on political grounds represents a fundamental […]

Helsinki Commission Advances Human Rights, Demands f...
Oct 19, 2023By Shannon Simrell, Senior Policy Advisor Between October 2-13, 11 Helsinki Commission staff joined approximately 1,400 representatives of OSCE participating States (pS) and civil society representatives in Warsaw, Poland in […]

Vladimir Kara-Murza: Putin’s Personal Prisoner
Sep 20, 2023Stream here: HEARING: Vladimir Kara-Murza: Putin’s Personal Prisoner – YouTube Vladimir Kara-Murza, a father, husband, and a freedom fighter, has been in detention for over five hundred days and is currently […]

United States Demonstrates Global Leadership on Ukra...
Jul 14, 2023The Helsinki Commission’s four senior leaders helmed the United States’ bicameral, bipartisan delegation to the 30th Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly last week in Vancouver, Canada. Co-Chairman Senator […]

Supporting A Democratic and Secure Moldova
Jul 12, 2023In recent years, Moldova has made notable steps to improve its democratic institutions and combat corruption. President Maia Sandu and her Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) have spearheaded wide-ranging […]
Helsinki Commission Chair and Co-Chair Lead Delegati...
Jul 10, 2023WASHINGTON—Helsinki Commission Co-Chair Senator Ben Cardin (MD) and Helsinki Commission Chair Representative Joe Wilson (SC-02) led a bipartisan Congressional delegation to the 30th Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE […]
Helsinki Commission Leadership Statement on Georgian...
Mar 06, 2023WASHINGTON—In response to news that the Georgian parliament is considering Russian-style foreign agent legislation, which would have a chilling effect on Georgia’s vibrant civil society, Helsinki Commission Chairman Representative Joe Wilson (SC-2), […]

North Macedonia’s Leadership of the OSCE in a ...
Feb 28, 2023North Macedonia has taken up leadership of the world’s largest regional security organization—the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)—a year into Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine. Much of […]
HEARING: NORTH MACEDONIA’S LEADERSHIP OF THE OSCE IN...
Feb 24, 2023Tuesday, February 28, 2023 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Streaming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNgAOyC9f5g North Macedonia has taken up leadership of the world’s largest regional security organization—the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe […]
U.S. Delegation to the OSCE PA presents Joint Statem...
Feb 24, 2023WASHINGTON— Today, the U.S. Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE PA) endorsed the “Joint Statement of Action on the One-Year Anniversary of […]
Steadfast Support for Ukraine: United States Delegat...
Feb 23, 2023WASHINGTON – Today, the United States Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE PA), led by Senator Ben Cardin (MD), met with […]
Helsinki Commission Chair and Co-Chair: Statement on...
Feb 20, 2023WASHINGTON—Following reports of the sharp deterioration of Azerbaijani dissident Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, Helsinki Commission Chairman Rep. Joe Wilson (SC-2) and Co-Chairman Sen. Ben Cardin (MD) issued the following joint statement: “We […]