OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Adopts Tough Resolution Calling on All OSCE Countries to Implement Magnitsky Sanctions

July 10, 2012

OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Adopts Tough Resolution Calling on All OSCE Countries to Implement Magnitsky Sanctions

8 July 2012 – Today, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly passed a resolution calling on all OSCE member states to impose visa sanctions and asset freezes on people who are responsible for the false arrest, torture and murder of Sergei Magnitsky, and the corruption he had uncovered.

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly brought together 320 members of parliament from 56 OSCE countries to discuss human rights, conflict prevention and promotion of democracy throughout OSCE countries. The resolution was approved by an overwhelming majority. Only 18 deputies voted against it and 11 abstained.</more>

The OSCE PA resolution entitled “Rule of Law in Russia: Case of Sergei Magnitsky” says:

“The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly supports the legislative initiatives on the Magnitsky case in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and in the national parliaments of the US, UK, Canada, Netherlands, Poland, Italy, Sweden, Germany, France, Estonia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Spain, Portugal and Georgia, as well as and the resolutions of the European Parliament.”

“The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly calls on national parliaments to take action to impose visa sanctions and freezes on persons responsible for the false arrest, torture, denial of medical care and death of Sergei Magnitsky, for the conspiracy to defraud the Russian Federation of taxes on corporate profits through fraudulent transactions and lawsuit against legitimate businesses; to take action against those officials who participated in the cover-up of all the above mentioned crimes and for other gross violations of human rights in the Russian Federation,” says the resolution.

In the resolution, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly stated that the harassment and torture of Sergei Magnitsky in custody was and remains politically motivated. The OSCE resolution expressed “regret” that the Russian authorities exonerated officials involved and deplored the posthumous prosecution launched against Magnitsky by the Russian government.

At the discussion of the resolution, U.S. Senator John McCain addressed the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly calling upon OSCE assembly to speak with one voice and express their support for Sergei Magnitsky’s ideals of justice and human freedom (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YncIqP7IWZg).

“Let us align this Assembly to the aspirations of the Russian people and for Sergei’s aspirations for justice, for equal dignity under the law, and for the indomitable spirit of human freedom,” said U.S. senator John McCain.

“The resolution represents the future that most Russian want for themselves and their country,” said U.S. senator McCain.

“I believe that supporting the rule of law is pro-Russia, defending the innocent and punishing the guilty is pro Russia, and ultimately I believe that the virtues that Sergei Magnitsky embodied – integrity, fair dealing, fidelity to truth and justice, and the deepest love of the country, is pro Russia,” added senator McCain.

Sergei Magnitsky, a 37-year old Russian lawyer who was investigating the serial thefts from the Russian treasury, was falsely arrested by the same police officers he had accused, tortured and killed in police custody two and a half years ago. His killers have not been brought to justice in Russia.

“The Magnitsky Files,” a 18-minute movie premiered in Washington by U.S. Senator John McCain and Freedom House’ David Kramer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL9b5LP4Ubc)/, shows close links between Russian government officials and persons involved in the thefts.

For further information please contact:

Hermitage Capital

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Livejournal: http://hermitagecap.livejournal.com/

Press Contact for OSCE PA:

Neil Simon

Director of Communications

OSCE Parliamentary Assembly