Title 22Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-73not60

§8928 Support for Russian Democracy and Civil Society Organizations

Title 22 › Chapter 96A— UKRAINE FREEDOM SUPPORT › § 8928

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of State must support programs in Russia, working directly or with groups like the OSCE or the National Endowment for Democracy, to boost democracy. That includes better governance, rule of law and anti‑corruption, stronger political and civil society groups, more uncensored Internet access, and wider access to independent media, plus help to protect journalists and activists. Congress may provide $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2018 to pay for these activities. The President must send a plan within 60 days after December 18, 2014 to the Senate Foreign Relations and Appropriations Committees and the House Foreign Affairs and Appropriations Committees. Any help must be as open and transparent as possible, and the President must brief those committees if they ask.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §8928

Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary of State shall, directly or through nongovernmental or international organizations, such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the National Endowment for Democracy, and related organizations—
(1)improve democratic governance, transparency, accountability, rule of law, and anti-corruption efforts in the Russian Federation;
(2)strengthen democratic institutions and political and civil society organizations in the Russian Federation;
(3)expand uncensored Internet access in the Russian Federation; and
(4)expand free and unfettered access to independent media of all kinds in the Russian Federation, including through increasing United States Government-supported broadcasting activities, and assist with the protection of journalists and civil society activists who have been targeted for free speech activities.
(b)There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2018 to carry out the activities set forth in subsection (a).
(c)Not later than 60 days after December 18, 2014, the President shall submit a strategy to carry out the activities set forth in subsection (a) to—
(1)the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
(2)the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
(d)Any assistance provided pursuant to this section shall be conducted in as transparent of a manner as possible, consistent with the nature and goals of this section. The President shall provide a briefing on the activities funded by this section at the request of the committees specified in subsection (c).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Executive Documents

Delegation of Functions Functions of President under subsec. (c) of this section delegated to Secretary of State by Memorandum of President of the United States, Feb. 19, 2015, 80 F.R. 12071, set out as a note under section 8925 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 8928

Title 22Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60