Chair Cardin Introduces Legislation to Support Exiled Russian and Belarusian Democracy Advocates

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced the Belarus and Russia Democratic Governance during Exile (BRIDGE) Act, following a powerful and moving event welcoming home Vladimir Kara-Murza, a prominent Russian democratic opposition leader recently released after two-and-a-half years in prison for opposing President Putin's unprovoked war against Ukraine. At the event, "Set Them Free: Recognizing Vladimir Kara-Murza and Prisoners of the Kremlin," Chair Cardin reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for the hundreds of "Prisoners of the Kremlin" - Russians, Belarusians, and Ukrainians unjustly imprisoned - and supporting those working for democracy in Russia and Belarus.

Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and Belarus' fraudulent 2020 election, hundreds of thousands of Russians and Belarusians have fled their homes. The BRIDGE Act aims to support exiled Russians and Belarusians who continue to promote democracy in their home countries. These individuals face numerous challenges, including legal status in exile, physical safety, and restricted access to social media and technology platforms critical for engaging with citizens back home. The bill directs the State Department to explore the creation of a dedicated unit to address these challenges, ensuring these champions of democracy can do their important work safely and effectively.

Additionally, the legislation authorizes funding to bolster Russian civil society and independent media, including U.S.-supported news outlets providing truthful information to Russian-speaking audiences about Putin's illegal war against Ukraine. The bill also codifies Russia-related sanctions, calling for continued accountability for Putin's war crimes, and raises awareness about the dangers of travel to Russia.

"This week, I witnessed the courage and resilience of Russian democrats firsthand when I welcomed Vladimir Kara-Murza back to freedom," said Chair Cardin. "Autocrats like Vladimir Putin and Aleksandr Lukashenka fear people like him. Russian and Belarusian democrats don't want us to do their work for them, but they do need help removing the barriers that stand in their way. This bill makes clear that the United States stands with the brave Russians and Belarusians resisting repression and the heroic Ukrainians defending their homeland from Putin's ongoing assault."

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