S.Amdt. 6225

This amendment, submitted by Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Whitehouse, aims to add a new section to bill S. 4784. Its purpose is to require the government to report on and potentially sanction the Russian Federation's treatment of religious groups in occupied Ukrainian territories.

Required Reporting

The Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense, working with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Director of National Intelligence, must submit a report to specific congressional committees. This report is due within 120 days of the Act's enactment and then annually for 3 years. The report must include:

• A description of activities by the Russian Government and its affiliates involving discrimination, persecution, or human rights abuse against Muslims (including Crimean Tatars), Jews, Christians, and other religious minorities not affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church.

• Identification of religious facilities, such as mosques, synagogues, and churches, that were seized, damaged, repurposed, or destroyed by those operating for the Russian Government.

• An assessment of the number of people subjected to forced displacement, imprisonment, or persecution, as well as restrictions on religious education and worship.

• Details on efforts to force Christian organizations to affiliate with Moscow-based institutions or suppress those not aligned with Russian state interests.

• The general impact of the invasion and occupation on religious freedom in places like Sevastopol and Crimea.

• A list of entities and individuals affiliated with the Russian Government or those with de facto authority who are responsible for these actions.

Sanctions

The amendment allows the President to impose sanctions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act against any foreign person included on the list of individuals and entities responsible for the persecution of these religious groups.