S.Amdt. 6566

SA 6566 is an amendment proposed by Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Whitehouse to be added to bill S. 4784. The purpose of this amendment is to require the reporting of the Russian Federation's persecution of religious groups in occupied Ukrainian territories and to allow for the imposition of sanctions.

The amendment aims to add Section 1230, which includes the following:

• Reporting Requirements: The Secretary of State, working with the Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary of the Treasury, must submit a report to specific congressional committees within 120 days of the Act's enactment, and annually for 3 years after.

• Report Content: The report must include:

  • Descriptions of activities by the Government of the Russian Federation or its affiliates that involve discrimination, persecution, or serious human rights abuse against Muslims (including Crimean Tatars), Jews, Christians, and other religious minorities not affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church or its subordinate Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.
  • Identification of religious facilities, such as mosques, synagogues, and churches, that were appropriated, repurposed, seized, damaged, or destroyed by those operating for or on behalf of the Russian Government.
  • Assessments regarding the number of people subjected to forced displacement, imprisonment, or persecution, as well as restrictions on religious education, worship services, and practices not affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church or the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.
  • Assessments of efforts to suppress denominations not aligned with Russian state interests or to compel Christian organizations to affiliate with Moscow-based religious institutions.
  • The overall impact of the occupation and invasion on religious freedom in occupied territories, including Sevastopol and Crimea.
  • A list of entities and individuals affiliated with the Russian Government or exercising de facto authority who are responsible for the suppression, persecution, or discrimination of Muslims, Jews, or Christians.

• Sanctions: The President is granted the authority to impose sanctions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act against any foreign person included on the list of perpetrators.