House Commerce Leaders Back Bogdan-Martin's ITU Head Candidacy

House Commerce Committee leaders wrote President Joe Biden Monday in support of U.S.-backed ITU secretary-general candidate Doreen Bogdan-Martin. Her prospects of winning against Russian nominee Rashid Ismailov during the ITU’s September plenipotentiary conference have improved amid international criticism of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (see 2203020068). Bogdan-Martin in her current role as ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau director “has focused on closing the digital divide, school connectivity, and developing digital skills and cyber safety,” said House Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., ranking member Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and leaders of the Communications Subcommittee in a letter to Biden. “Further, Ms. Bogdan-Martin has excelled in forming new partnerships between the ITU and the private sector, thereby bringing more resources to the ITU’s important development efforts.” The lawmakers noted concerns about Ismailov’s candidacy because he’s “Russia’s former Deputy Minister for Communications and Mass Media and a former Huawei executive. Russian citizenship in and of itself is not of concern, but former participation in" Russian President Vladimir Putin's "regime is alarming. Russia’s disregard for international law as evidenced by its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and the country’s continued support of cyber criminals, should make it clear to all ITU Member States that Russia’s preferred candidate is unworthy of a position demanding international cooperation and consensus building.”