Statement by President of the European Parliament on the first anniversary of the death of Sergei Magnitsky

16 November 2010, Brussels – European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek made the following statement to mark the first anniversary of the death of Sergey Magnitsky on 16 November 2009.

“We mark tomorrow yet another unfortunate death of a young man fighting for justice. Sergey Magnitsky was a brave man, who in his fight against corruption was unjustifiably imprisoned under ruthless conditions and then died in jail without receiving appropriate medical care. This is a shocking example showing that people fighting against corruption in Russia can feel neither safe nor protected. It is a paradox, because the lawyer Sergey Magnitsky believed very strongly in justice.

His death highlighted the serious shortcomings of the prison and judicial system in Russia and the prevailing atmosphere of impunity.

I raised the case of Sergey Magnitsky’s death during my meeting with President Medvedev in June in Moscow. I also raised the unresolved murder cases of journalists Anna Politkovskaya, Natalia Estemirova and Anastasia Barburova, human rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov and others. We had an open discussion with President Medvedev about it and addressed in detail the worrying situation of human rights in Russia.

I urge once again the authorities of the Russian Federation at all appropriate levels to conduct a thorough, impartial and credible investigation in order to bring those involved in and responsible for the death of Sergey Magnitsky to justice. The state should also fully investigate the unresolved brutal murders of independent journalists and human rights lawyers.

The follow-up of this case is also seen by the EU as an indicator of the seriousness of the efforts to reform Russia’s judicial and prison system.

Democracy is about institutions and procedures. We need Russia to have an independent and fair judiciary: the state should protect human rights activists and support people fighting against corruption.” hairy woman payday loan www.zp-pdl.com https://zp-pdl.com/fast-and-easy-payday-loans-online.php займы на карту