1 HJR268
2 219867-1
3 By Representative Isbell
4 RFD: Rules
5 First Read: 06-APR-22
Page 0 1 219867-1:n:04/06/2022:LK/tgw LSA2022-1243
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 CONDEMNING RUSSIA FOR ITS MILITARY INVASION OF
9 UKRAINE AND DECLARING SUPPORT FOR THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE.
10
11 WHEREAS, on February 24, 2022, armed forces of the
12 Russian Federation crossed the Ukrainian border in a sweeping,
13 large-scale invasion of that country; the conflict has already
14 displaced hundreds of thousands of refugees and has brought
15 war to the doorsteps of thousands more, and threatens to
16 become the largest war in Europe since World War II; and
17 WHEREAS, although the Russian government has labeled
18 this invasion as a mere "military exercise," this needless
19 aggression is in fact the culmination of a decades-long effort
20 of the Russian government to delegitimize the Ukrainian
21 government and annex that country's sovereign territory; in
22 March of 2014, Russia forcibly annexed Crimea, a beautiful and
23 valuable Ukrainian province that also features a warm
24 deepwater port, the acquisition of which has been among
25 Russia's long-term priorities since the reign of Tsar Peter I
26 during the 17th and 18th centuries; and
Page 1 1 WHEREAS, both before and after its illegitimate
2 annexation of Crimea, the Russian government has attempted to
3 portray Ukrainian territory as belonging to Russia, both
4 culturally and politically, and has fueled civil unrest and
5 armed conflict in these areas in order to weaken the Ukrainian
6 government and to find a cause to justify its military
7 expansion; and
8 WHEREAS, throughout all this time, Ukraine has
9 served as one of the bulwarks of Eastern Europe; proud of its
10 independence and ever hopeful for a bright future illuminated
11 by the flame of democracy, Ukraine has declared that it will
12 continue to fight to defend its sovereignty; and
13 WHEREAS, with the eyes of the world fixed on
14 Ukraine, and while the ink on this page of history has yet to
15 dry, let it be known that the great State of Alabama stands
16 firmly in solidarity with the Ukrainian people, our brothers
17 and sisters in democracy; now therefore,
18 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH
19 HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That this body condemns the Russian
20 Federation for its unjustifiable military invasion of Ukraine
21 and hereby declares its support for the proud nation of
22 Ukraine, its peoples, and its brave defenders, and urges the
23 United States government and the State of Alabama to take
24 action to demonstrate support to Ukraine.
25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the State of Alabama
26 and all Alabama residents are encouraged to disfavor Russian
Page 2 1 products and support of any economic activity that would
2 benefit Russia, to the utmost extent possible.
Page 3