109th CONGRESS
2d Session

S. 2770

To impose sanctions on certain officials of Uzbekistan responsible for the Andijan massacre.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 9, 2006

Mr. MCCAIN (for himself, Mr. BIDEN, Mr. LIEBERMAN, and Mr. LEAHY) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

A BILL

To impose sanctions on certain officials of Uzbekistan responsible for the Andijan massacre.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the `Andijan Accountability Act of 2006'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:

      (1) On May 13, 2005, the Government of Uzbekistan security forces opened fire without warning on anti-government demonstrators in the city of Andijan, killing several hundred unarmed civilians.

      (2) The Government of Uzbekistan has categorically rejected calls by the United States, the European Union, the United Nations, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to allow an independent, international investigation of the Andijan massacre.

      (3) In the last year the Government of Uzbekistan has launched a brutal crackdown on peaceful dissent.

      (4) The Government of Uzbekistan has expelled United States forces from the Karshi-Khanabad military base in southern Uzbekistan, despite the continuing urgency of military operations in Afghanistan to the war on terrorism.

      (5) The Government of Uzbekistan has expelled the Peace Corps, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the United States Agency for International Development-funded International Research and Exchanges Board, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and numerous nongovernmental organizations, including Freedom House and the Eurasia Foundation, from the country.

      (6) The Government of Uzbekistan has applied intense economic and political pressure on its neighbors in Central Asia to return to its security services refugees fleeing persecution.

      (7) The Government of Uzbekistan's persecution of political dissent and suppression of religious freedom risk increasing support for violent, extremist movements in the region.

      (8) On October 3, 2005, the European Union imposed sanctions on Uzbekistan, including an arms embargo and a ban on visas for officials responsible for the massacre in Andijan.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of the Congress that the repressive policies of the Government of Uzbekistan undermine United States efforts to promote stability and to combat terrorism and extremism in Central Asia, and that the United States has a strong interest in promoting democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in that country.

SEC. 4. SANCTIONS.

    (a) In General- Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the President shall send to the appropriate congressional committees a list of officials of the Government of Uzbekistan, including any current or former officials of the security services and judicial institutions, who played a direct and substantial role in the repression of peaceful political dissent, and a list of any other Uzbek individuals who provide substantial economic and political support for the present leadership in Uzbekistan.

    (b) Imposition of Sanctions- Not later than 10 days after the list described in subsection (a) is submitted to the appropriate congressional committees, the following sanctions shall apply:

      (1) Any individual on the list submitted under subsection (a) shall be ineligible for a visa to enter the United States.

      (2) No property or interest in property belonging to an individual on the list submitted under subsection (a), or to a member of the immediate family of such individual if the property is effectively under the control of such individual, may be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt with, if the property is within the United States or within the possession or control of a United States person, including the overseas branch of such person, or after the date of the enactment of this Act comes within the control of such person.

      (3) No United States person may engage in financial transactions with an individual on the list submitted under subsection (a), or with a member of the immediate family of such individual if the transaction will benefit an individual on the list submitted under subsection (a).

    (c) Termination of Sanctions- The President may terminate the sanctions described in subsection (b) if the Secretary of State certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the Government of Uzbekistan has formally accepted, and is fully cooperating with, an independent international inquiry into the May 2005 Andijan massacre.

    (d) Appropriate Congressional Committees- In this section, the term `appropriate congressional committees' means the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on International Relations of the House of Representatives.

END