Magnitsky Legislation Takes off on the European Continent with the Adoption of Magnitsky Bill by Estonian Parliament
December 8, 2016
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate distribution
Magnitsky Legislation Takes off on the European Continent with the Adoption of Magnitsky Bill by Estonian Parliament
08 December 2016 – The Estonian Parliament has unanimously, with 90 votes in favour and zero votes against, passed Magnitsky legislation (“Act 262 SE”) and sent it to the President of Estonia.
“We will finally have the ability to ban entry into Estonia for those types of people who beat Magnitsky to death in jail and those who tortured Yulia Savchenko,” said Eerik-Niiles Kross, MP from Estonia’s Reform Party.
The Magnitsky legislation passed by the Estonian Parliament adds a ground to deny entry to Estonia on the basis of human rights abuse, under Section 29(1) of the Obligation to Leave and Prohibition on Entry Act.
The Estonia’s Magnitsky legislation supplements and clarifies the legal basis to refuse entry to known human rights abusers. The ban to enter Estonia will in particular apply in cases where human rights violations led to injury or death.
The new clause states that a prohibition on entry may be applied with regard to an alien if, “there is information or good reason to believe that he or she has participated in or contributed to violation of human rights in a foreign state, which has resulted in the death or serious damage to health of a person, unfounded conviction of a person for criminal offence on political motives, or other serious consequences.”
Estonia’s Magnitsky legislation was initiated by the Foreign Affairs Committee, and prior to yesterday’s vote underwent a review by the Commission of Constitutional Affairs.
The Estonian Magnitsky legislation passed three Parliamentary readings before its unanimous adoption today.
“This historic law will send a clear message to human rights abusers around the world that they will not be able to escape the consequences of their crimes,” said William Browder, leader of the Magnitsky Justice Campaign. “To have the first European Magnitsky law passed in a country which borders Russia is a fitting tribute to Sergei Magnitsky, whose murder in Russia inspired this legislation.”
Sergei Magnitsky, a 37-year old Russian lawyer, uncovered and testified about a US$230 million fraud by Russian officials and organized criminals. He was arrested by some of the same officials he had implicated in his testimony, kept in detention without trial for 358 days, and killed on 16 November 2009. Russia closed the investigation into his death due to absence of a crime, promoted police officers involved in his arrest, and exonerated tax officials involved in the US$230 million fraud.
The Estonian legislation coincides with several Magnitsky legislative initiatives currently taking place around the world, including a Global Magnitsky Act in the United States, a UK Magnitsky Amendment which was tabled in the UK Parliament last week, and a Global Magnitsky law which is underway in Canada.
For more information, please contact:
Justice for Sergei Magnitsky
+44 207 440 1777
e-mail: info@lawandorderinrussia.org
www.lawandorderinrussia.org
billbrowder.com
twitter.com/Billbrowder
Estonian Magnitsky Law:
Estonian Parliament’s website:
Why Europe Needs a Magnitsky Law?
https://www.amazon.com/Why-Europe-Needs-Magnitsky-Law/dp/2954629800
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