Posts Tagged ‘westminster’
Visas and dirty money
SERGEI MAGNITSKY was a Russian lawyer who uncovered a $230m fraud perpetrated by officials against taxpayers, and paid with his life. Since his death in prison in 2009 (he was denied medical treatment as part of an attempt to make him switch sides), campaigners, including his client, the American-born British investor Bill Browder, have been trying to get Western governments to withhold visas from the 60-odd officials involved in the fraud and his persecution.
In Britain, the former Europe minister Denis MacShane has pursued this issue hard, most recently in a debate on January 11th in which he named many of the officials concerned (something that libel-shy British media have so far been reluctant to do). Now the ball is getting another hefty kick thanks to Dominic Raab, the MP for Esher & Walton. With the support of his backbench Tory colleagues, he has instigated a “Backbench Business Debate” on the Magnitsky list on March 7. The motion is as follows:
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MPs mount campaign to ban Russian visas over Sergei Magnitsky death
Backbench MPs will on Wednesday pile pressure on the Government to ban a number of senior Russian officials from entering the UK by demanding action against those allegedly linked to the death of an anti-corruption lawyer working for a British hedge fund in Moscow.
Dominic Raab, Conservative MP for Esher & Walton, has tabled a motion for a backbench debate in the Chamber of the House of Commons, after Prime Minister’s Questions, to vote for legislation to bar visas for 60 Russians connected to the death of Sergei Magnitsky, who worked for Hermitage Capital, and to seize their assets.
The motion has the support of five former foreign ministers, including David Miliband, Jack Straw and Sir Malcolm Rifkind. Others backing it include former Shadow Home Secretary David Davis and former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell. In total, 26 MPs have signed the motion.
The law would be based on similar arrangements as in the US, which has barred entry to the 60 individuals, including the Russian deputy solicitor general, the deputy interior minister, and the head of the economic espionage unit at the Federal Security Service – the successor to the KGB.
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Film commemorates whistleblower’s death
The Express on Sunday
14 November 2010 – WESTMINSTER will unite with parliaments around the world on Tuesday to screen a film marking the first anniversary of the death of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky who died in Russian police custody after exposing corrupt officials.
The film documents how Sergei testified against Russian officials who allegedly embezzled £142million of public funds in the largest tax refund fraud in Russian history.
Those he accused threw him in jail on false tax charges.
In a cramped and sometimes sewage-covered cell, Sergei developed health problems which went untreated, despite repeated requests for medical attention.
He died on November 16, 2009, aged 37, leaving behind a wife and two children.
The film Justice for Sergei will be shown at the European Parliament, in Germany, Estonia, Canada and the US.
“The main objective is to make sure everyone knows what really happened to Sergei,” says Bill Browder of London-based investment fund Hermitage Capital Management for whom Magnitsky was working at the time.
Despite an international campaign the Russian authorities have failed to punish those involved in his death.
And last week, Russia’s Interior Ministry granted awards to officers implicated in the tax evasion case.
Mr Browder added: “It has been demoralising to watch Russian officials give awards to the murderers.” быстрые займы онлайн микрозайм онлайн https://zp-pdl.com/apply-for-payday-loan-online.php https://zp-pdl.com/get-quick-online-payday-loan-now.php hairy woman
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