,,iii #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #cai ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #ab 7legislative day1 ,december #aa71 #bjac,mr4 ,murphy 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,johnson of ,wisconsin1 ,mrs4 ,shaheen1 ,mr4 ,durbin1 ,mr4 ,menendez1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,mr4 ,rubio1 ,mr4 ,risch1 ,mr4 ,cardin1 and ,mr4 ,cruz7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,december #ah1 #bjac,reported by ,mr4 ,menendez1 without amendment ,january #g1 #bjad;,considered and agreed to ,,resolution ,expressing support for the ,ukrainian people in light of ,president ,yanukovych's decision not to sign an ,association ,agreement with the ,european ,union4 ,whereas1 according to a poll conducted in ,november #bjac1 a majority of the people of ,ukraine supported signing a historic trade and political agreement with the ,european ,union2 ,whereas a closer association between ,ukraine and the ,european ,union has been supported by ,ukrainian civil society1 business leaders1 and politicians across the political spectrum and would bring lasting political1 democratic1 and economic benefits to the people of ,ukraine2 ,whereas ,ukraine successfully passed much of the legislation required to conform to ,european ,union standards for signing an ,association ,agreement2 ,whereas1 on ,september #bb1 #bjab1 and ,november #ah1 #bjac1 the ,senate unanimously passed resolutions calling for a demonstrable end to selective justice in ,ukraine and expressing its belief that ,ukraine's future lies with stronger ties to ,europe1 the ,united ,states1 and others in the community of democracies2 ,whereas the experience of countries such as ,poland1 ,lithuania1 ,latvia1 and ,estonia provides a positive example of increased economic opportunity1 enhanced personal freedom1 and good governance4 which can also be realized by ,ukraine2 ,whereas the ,government and people of ,ukraine have the sovereign right to choose their own foreign policy and economic course1 and no other country has the right to determine their political and economic orientation1 nor decide which alliances and trade agreements they can join2 ,whereas1 on ,november #ba1 #bjac1 ,president ,viktor ,yanukovych suspended ,ukraine's preparations for signing the ,association ,agreement one week before a critical ,european ,union ,summit in ,vilnius1 ,lithuania2 ,whereas the abrupt reversal on the eve of the summit following ,russian economic coercion and to protect the narrow interests of some officials and individuals in ,ukraine prompted hundreds of thousands of ,ukrainians all across the country1 especially young people and students1 to protest the decision and stand in support of furthering ,ukraine's ,euro-,atlantic integration2 ,whereas international nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations provide essential care to needy ,ukrainians1 yet face direct threats and challenges to their existence and administrative and regulatory impediments1 including challenges to operating with the tax-exempt status necessary to maximize the use of funds on the ground and threats to the fabric of civil society vital to democracy in ,ukraine2 ,whereas1 on ,november #cj1 #bjac1 at ,independence ,square in ,kyiv1 special division police dispersed a peaceful demonstration of students and civil society activists who were calling on ,president ,yanukovych to sign the ,association ,agreement2 ,whereas approximately #ce individuals were detained or arrested1 and dozens were hospitalized1 some with severe injuries2 ,whereas1 on ,december #i1 #bjac1 raids were conducted on three opposition media outlets and the headquarters of one opposition party2 ,whereas1 on ,december #aa1 #bjac1 ,ukrainian authorities conducted an overnight police operation in an attempt to forcefully take control of ,independence ,square1 but were resisted by brave ,ukrainians who filled the square and rebuffed the police action2 ,whereas all three former ,presidents of ,ukraine have underscored the need to refrain from violence and the importance of engaging in a dialogue with the opposition2 and ,whereas ,ukraine faces an impending economic crisis that can only be solved with long-term economic reforms3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 stands with the people of ,ukraine and supports their sovereign right to chart an independent and democratic future for their country2 7#b7 urges leaders in the ,united ,states and the ,european ,union to continue working together actively to support a peaceful and democratic resolution to the current crisis that moves ,ukraine toward a future in the ,euro-,atlantic community and a long-term solution to ,ukraine's economic crisis2 7#c7 encourages demonstrators and members of the opposition and civil society in ,ukraine to continue avoiding the use of violence and engage in a dialogue of national reconciliation2 7#d7 urges all political parties to refrain from hate speech or actions of an anti-,semitic or other character which further divide the ,ukrainian people when they need to be united2 7#e7 calls on the ,government of ,ukraine to refrain from further use of force or acts of violence against peaceful protestors1 and to respect the internationally recognized human rights of the ,ukrainian people1 especially the freedoms of speech and assembly2 7#f7 condemns the decision by ,ukrainian authorities to use violence against peaceful demonstrators on ,november #cj1 ,december #a1 and ,december #aa1 #bjac1 and calls for those responsible to be swiftly brought to justice and all detained nonviolent demonstrators to be immediately released2 and 7#g7 notes that in the event of further state violence against peaceful protestors1 the ,president and ,congress should consider whether to apply targeted sanctions1 including visa bans and asset freezes1 against individuals responsible for ordering or carrying out the violence4