WASHINGTON – Two weeks ahead of President Barack Obama’s first visit to Russia, Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission), and Co-Chairman Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) will hold a hearing:
“The Medvedev Thaw: Is it real? Will it last?”
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
10:00 a.m.
Room: SVC 202/203 (Capitol Visitor Center)
The hearing will examine three representative cases in the areas of religious liberty, media freedom, and the rule of law and will take stock of trends in these key areas one year into President Dmitry Medvedev’s term.
The following witnesses are scheduled to testify:
• Sergey Cherepanov, Deputy Chairman of the Presiding Committee of the Administrative Center of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia
• Musa Klebnikov, Executive Director, The Paul Klebnikov Fund; widow of the murdered investigative editor of Forbes Russia
• William Browder, CEO, Hermitage Capital Management
• Sarah E. Mendelson, Director, Human Rights and Security Initiative, Center for Strategic and International Studies
