Most observers are expecting Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama to use the first foreign policy debate this coming Friday to discuss U.S. policy toward Russia, and most likely highlight their (at times passionate) disagreements. What many may not realize is that there are still some areas of general consensus by both candidates in this area, as shown by Senate Resolution 322 (DOWNLOAD HERE), signed by Senators McCain, Obama, and Joe Biden, which expresses support for Mikhail Khodorkovsky and other political prisoners who have fallen victim to the failures of Russia’s judicial system. Today we have sent out a press release (see below), to remind everyone of this 2005 resolution, and urge the candidates and U.S. voting public not to forget the plight of those trapped in the gulags of contemporary Russia. Realistically, we all recognize that U.S. policy toward Russia is an incredibly challenging subject for both the candidates to discuss in light of the conflict in Georgia, involving complex and sensitive issues ranging from energy security to nuclear proliferation. However, within the cacophony of urgent issues surrounding U.S.-Russia relations, we must not lose sight of these kinds of critical barometers measuring Moscow’s willingness to repair its international reputation and return to the rule of law – a desire expressed by President Dmitry Medvedev himself. This becomes all the more important because it would cost Russia nothing to release these prisoners (apart from bringing accountability to a few corrupt officials), and they would have only everything to gain in terms of their global reputation. Russia can be a difficult country for Westerners to understand, but today more than ever the best measure of change is when we can observe decisions which require courage. At the end of the day, after all the hype and hyperbole we can expect to see in the coming months, there is simply talk vs. action. For Russia’s leadership to take action to reform the legal system, prevent political interference, and release political prisoners would send an important signal that it is truly committed to building trust with its own people and the international community. Until then, talk is just talk.