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As the Russian invasion of Ukraine nears the six-month mark, pressure is mounting on the Biden administration to recognize Russia as the state sponsor of terrorism. The move has the support of both parties in Congress and is seen by supporters as a proportionate response to the growing evidence of Russian war crimes in Ukraine. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, however, expressed reluctance to confirm the designation, and Moscow warned that any such move would constitute a diplomatic “point of no return” in relations between Russia and the United States.

Earlier this year, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham presented a cross-party resolution calling for Blinken to recognize Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. The Foreign Affairs Committee considered the resolution, which was then unanimously approved by the Senate. Although the resolution was non-binding, it sent a message that Congress could take matters into its own hands if the State Department refused to designate Russia.

The House of Representatives has gone one step further. Representatives Ted Lieu, Joe Wilson, Jared Golden, Adam Kinzinger and Tom Malinowski presented a two-party bill in late July to mark Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. House president Nancy Pelosi endorsed the move, calling the label “long overdue”. The bill has the support of both parties in the House and there are many indications that it will be passed. It will probably also receive the support of the Senate. Back then, it was up to US President Joe Biden to sign the bill.

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There are many reasons why the Biden administration hesitated to award Russia the designation of a state sponsor of terrorism. These include concerns that the label will adversely affect US partners and allies who continue to hold vital business interests in Russia. Meanwhile, Blinken downplayed the issue by suggesting that many designation sanctions would duplicate existing measures.

Opponents also warn that the application of the symbol of the state sponsor of terrorism to Russia would drastically limit the possibilities of future diplomatic cooperation with Moscow. Kremlin officials reiterated these fears. Speaking in early August, the director of the North American department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Alexander Darchiev, commented: “If this legislative initiative is adopted, it would mean that Washington would go beyond the point of no return, with the most serious collateral damage to bilateral diplomatic relations, to the point of lowering or even a complete breakup. The American side has been warned. “

The designation of countries as state sponsors of terrorism is the responsibility of the US State Department and depends on the country’s actions meeting the US definitions of international terrorism. Currently, only four countries are officially recognized by the United States as state sponsors of terrorism: Cuba, North Korea, Iran and Syria. The label brings with it a number of new sanctions, including bans on the defense industry and the export of dual-use goods, as well as a number of financial and other restrictions.

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There is no doubt that Russia would technically qualify as a state sponsor of terrorism. Since the start of the invasion on February 24, war crimes by the Russian military in Ukraine have been widely documented and are now the subject of numerous international investigations. See the article : How does the Global South policy of non-alignment and solidarity explain South Africa’s position on Ukraine?. So far, six countries have joined Ukraine, formally declaring the Russian invasion an act of genocide. Individual atrocities, including the mass murder of civilians in Bucza and the bombing of civilian targets such as shopping malls and hospitals, fueled calls for the recognition of Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.

The designation would have potentially painful consequences for Moscow and could create significant new barriers to Russia’s engagement with the outside world. In addition to introducing additional restrictions on the US’s economic relationship with Russia, it would also put pressure on international companies that still do business in Russia. Additionally, natural persons will be able to sue Russia in American courts.

The designation debate is clearly far from over. Critics say the move risks destroying relations with US allies and will further limit the possibility of any constructive dialogue with Moscow. At the same time, there is also widespread awareness that the current sanctions have not brought Russia to the negotiating table or end the slaughter in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russian atrocities continue to increase, and millions of Ukrainians in the occupied regions of the country face the threat of crimes against humanity every day.

Proponents say it is time to recognize Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. They argue that this would necessarily send a strong signal to Moscow, while at the same time reducing the Kremlin’s ability to finance the invasion of Ukraine. If the State Department is still reluctant to take this step, Congress may try to do so.

Mark Temnycky is an accredited freelance journalist covering Eastern Europe and non-resident at the Eurasia Center Atlantic Council. You can find him on Twitter @MTemnycky.

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The views expressed in UkraineAlert are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Atlantic Council, its staff or its supporters. On the same subject : Russia’s Fertilizer Shipment Heads to US as Many Worry About Food Shortages.

The mission of the Eurasia Center is to strengthen transatlantic cooperation in promoting stability, democratic values ​​and prosperity in Eurasia, from Eastern Europe and Turkey in the West to the Caucasus, Russia and Central Asia in the East.

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Photo: Crosses with numbers on the graves of unidentified victims killed by the Russian army during the occupation of Bucza. Read also : HIMARS: What are the high-tech missile systems being sent to Ukraine and how important are they?. (Photo by Oleksii Chumachenko / SOPA Images / Sipa USA)

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