Longstanding relationship with Moscow ending over invasion

Santa Clara County Supervisors have unanimously voted to sever its sister-city relationship with Moscow as the Russian invasion of Ukraine approaches its one month mark.

“We are now on day 27 of this invasion that we have all watched in horror,” said District 3 Supervisor Otto Lee, who invoked his past career as a military veteran while condemning Russia. “And certainly many of us feel so hopeless to stop this war that I do believe our action today will be able to work as a voice to help spark the light for these dark matters.”

Santa Clara County has had ties with the city of Moscow since 1994, the same year it established a commission that hosts Russian delegations as form of cultural exchange.

The move March 22 by the supervisors runs counter to how San Jose has approached its own sister-city relationship with Russia, which it has held since 1992. Earlier in the month, the city chose to not sever its ties with Ekaterinburg and instead sent a letter to the leaders of the country's fourth largest city urging peace in Ukraine and support for Russia citizens who oppose the war.

While District 5 Supervisor Joe Simitian on March 22 called the county's move a “symbolic” gesture, he said that some sort of decision had to be made in light of recent events.

“Symbols can be important,” he said. “We are trying, I think, by our action, to make a statement.”

County Executive Jeff Smith, whose office brought the referral on March 22, had stated in early March that in addition to severing ties with Moscow he would also leave open the option of dismantling the Moscow commission, a decision that brought criticism from some of its members. The commission currently has nine members and organizes trips between county residents and Russians. In recent years, Russians have toured county institutions like its courts and local universities such as Stanford.

On March 22, however, Smith had changed his mind, calling the commission's cultural exchanges “positive” and only recommending that government ties be cut. Supervisors also acknowledged the commission's contributions and stated they did not want to see it be disbanded.

But not all commission members are happy with how the meeting turned out.

Nancy Madison, who has been a member of the commission on and off for two decades, said that she worries how actions by the supervisors could affect her group going forward. In addition to cutting off its relationship with Moscow, the board also approved amendments to the commission's bylaws that Madison said could stifle its ability to receive funding for future delegations.

At the moment, however, the commission is unable to bring over any Russian citizens for a visit to the county.

Shortly after Ukraine was invaded, the U.S. government-sponsored organization that helps facilitate the delegations suspended all programs with Russia and its ally Belarus.