EU-RUSSIA: “MAGNITSKY ACT” RECEIVES SUPPORT!

EU Reporter

MEPs gave green light to the initiative of Kristiina Ojuland for visa restrictions and assets freezing to individuals implicated in death of the Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky. Today Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament voted for a recommendation to the EU Council with a score of 63 -2 – “no”, 1 – “abstention”.

On the eve of a vote Ojuland as a special reporter on the case held a debate with the representatives of differentn political groups in the European Parliament on amendments made.

“Hermitage Capital” Bill Browder, Magnitsky’s former employer, as a special guest of the hearing and an expert on the case called for ‘justice for Sergei’.

“We have all the evidence that Sergei had been beaten on the last night of his life, and he had been tortured before. Nevertheless Among 60 individuals implicated in the affair the only one who was prosecuted was a prison doctor, for not treating Sergei from the sicknesses he never had ” – said Browder.

Meanwhile the “Hermitage Capital” conducted its own investigation and the results were so convincing that the 39 million US doll in the accounts of corrupt officials have been frozen in Swiss banks recently.

“They love to travel and buy property in Europe, – observed Browder. – We must deny them this privilege, if we can’t get justice in Russia’. Since Magnitsky’s death the corrupt officials haven’t changed their luxurious lifestyle, acquiring properties and enjoying the European lifestyle. Moreover, the impunity encourages them to continue to insult the memory of the deceived and intimidate the victim’s relatives seeking justice.

“Magnitsky Law” – is not only a tribute to justice, it will save hundreds of lives in the future, – says
Browder. He decided to fight criminals the very day of the murder of his late employee. Brawder has publicly acknowledged that he continues to receive threats for his activity of exposure of the ‘Klyev’s’ criminal group but he wowed to go on honouring the memory of his perished employee.

The initiative of the “Magnitsky Law” received a wide support from all spectrum of political parties in the Parliament. Even socialists, traditionally sympathetic to the Kremlin, said “Magnitsky
case” is exceptionally well documented and doesn’t cast any doubt.

“Threats of retaliation from Russia – are empty, in the EU there is no problem of corrupt officials,” – said the deputy Werner Schulz (“Greens”).

The Magnitsky affaire is largely seen as a syndrom of authoritarian rule and a massive falure of the
current regime to construct a state of law.

“All of the post-Soviet space is departing from the principles of the rule of law – stated British MEP Charles Tannock (” Conservatives “). – The question is whether Russia can remain a member of the Council of Europe?.. ”

During the debates, the MEPs questioned the existence of “shared values” between the EU and the Kremlin.

After the discussion at the Foreign Affairs Committee there was a demonstration of the movie “The Russian
Untouchables” on the criminal Kluyev group directly implicated in Magnitsky death. The members not only enjoy the impunity, but continue the systematic theft of hundreds of millions from the Russian treasury in the very same embezziment scheme, returing VAT, while hiding profits and pretending losses.

In viewing and discussion chaired by Ojuland among the participants were the creator of the film – Bill Browder, the ALDE group leader Guy Verhofshtad, Russian opposition leader Mikhail Kasyanov and
congressman Jim McGovern, who addressed the gathering in a video. He spoke in support of the “Magnitsky Act” as instrument to fight corruption in Russia and expressed his wish for smooth passage of the recommendations through the EU institutional procedures.

Commenting on the results of the vote Ojuland said to the ‘EU Reporter’:’Green light to “Magnitsky Law” it is a good news for the democratic forces in Russia. Finally we have the opportunity to offer something more tangible to Russian civil society than our moral support. Such a law would be a serious proof for our commitment to the promotion of democracy. Refusal to accept corrupt officials in the EU is
a real gesture of solidarity with Russian people’.

The next step is the plenary vote in Strasbourg. At the moment of the publication the exact date was not attributed. займ на карту займ онлайн https://zp-pdl.com/get-quick-online-payday-loan-now.php https://zp-pdl.com/fast-and-easy-payday-loans-online.php buy over the counter medicines