U.S. House of Representatives Will Vote on Magnitsky Act on the Third Anniversary of His Death in Russian Police Custody

November 16, 2012

Today, on the third anniversary of the death of Sergei Magnitsky in Russian police custody, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012. The bill will impose asset freezes and visa sanctions on officials responsible for the false arrest, torture and death of Sergei Magnitsky and the corruption he had uncovered. The bill contains an expanded definition of officials to be sanctioned. It adds a new category — people involved in the cover-up of crimes against Magnitsky — to the previous list of 60 officials in the Magnitsky case published by the U.S. Helsinki Commission.

Speaking on the eve of the vote, Congressman Jim McGovern, the original sponsor of the Magnitsky bill, said:

“Only individuals within the Russian government who abuse their office and engage in corruption and human rights crimes will find their assets and visas under scrutiny and subject to U.S. sanction.”

“Passage of the Magnitsky Act sends a clear message to the Russian people that we support their fundamental human rights. Importantly, it also sends a strong message to those Russian officials who support the rule of law and who reject corruption and human rights abuses. It lets them know that their efforts and their achievements are valued by the United States and the international community,” noted Congressman McGovern.

The third anniversary of Sergei Magnitsky’s death will be marked in both Moscow and London by the premiere of the play “One Hour And Eighteen Minutes”. The play’s name refers to the period of time doctors were forced to wait outside Magnitsky’s cell as he lay dying after being beaten by eight riot guards with rubber batons. When the medics were finally let in, they found Magnitsky dead on the cell floor.

The Moscow premiere of the “One Hour 18 Minutes – 2012” by Teatr.Doc is based on new materials and testimonies, including one entitled: “I am alive because Magnitsky died.”

“If the system which killed Magnitsky and continues to kill other people persists, then at least at our theatre we want to testify against it,” says Teatr.Doc on its site.

Written by celebrated Russian playwright Elena Gremina, the play represents a theatre-staged open trial of Magnitsky’s torturers and killers.

It is now also brought to an English audience by the Sputnik Theatre, the only English theatre dedicated to Russian plays.

“His [Magnitsky’s] story is emblematic of corruption, human rights abuses and impunity in Russia. Since the death of Sergei Magnitsky, the human rights situation inside the Russian Federation has continued to deteriorate. Beginning in June and with astonishing speed, the Russian Duma passed a series of draconian laws that restrict freedom of expression, freedom of association, and freedom of assembly, – said U.S. Congressman McGovern. – In this context, the story of Sergei Magnitsky remains especially important. At a time when the human rights situation in the country is going from bad to worse, it is all the more important to hold Russian human rights violators accountable.”

“On the third anniversary of Sergei Magnitsky’s death, all our thoughts are with his family. It is an extremely sad occasion for all of us, but we will continue to fight for justice for him. I can’t think of a more fitting tribute to Sergei’s memory than passing a legislation with his name on it. We will never be able to bring Sergei back, but through his sacrifice he will save the lives of others suffering in similar circumstances. I hope Sergei’s courage and belief in the truth will be an inspiration to everyone,” said William Browder, CEO of Hermitage Capital.

Sergei Magnitsky was arrested and tortured to death in Russian police custody after he had testified about the involvement of police officials in a $230 million tax rebate fraud. After his death, those officials have been exonerated, promoted and awarded state honours. This year the Russian government is pursuing the first ever posthumous prosecution in Russian history against Sergei Magnitsky, and his family and their counsel have come under intense pressure. Because of the impunity in this case, the European Parliament and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly have both introduced resolutions calling for visa bans and asset freezes on Russian officials in this case across the EU and in OSCE member countries.

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