// Press Releases (in English)
В преддверии принятия в США «Глобального Акта о правах человека имени Магнитского» Россия предпринимает меры по запугиванию российских гражданских активистов
May 18, 2016
ПРЕСС-РЕЛИЗ
Для немедленного распространения
В преддверии принятия в США «Глобального Акта о правах человека имени Магнитского» Россия предпринимает меры по запугиванию российских гражданских активистов
18 мая 2016 года – В преддверии принятия в США «Глобального Акта о правах человека имени Магнитского» Россия предпринимает меры по запугиванию гражданских активистов, которые выступают за закон Магнитского и предусматриваемые им санкции в отношении чиновников-коррупционеров и нарушителей прав человека.
На сегодня на 10 утра в Комитете по международным делам Палаты представителей Конгресса США запланировано слушание по глобальному законопроекту Магнитского, уже прошедшему обсуждение в Сенате США.
За сутки до обсуждения в комитете Конгресса «Глобального Акта Магнитского» прокремлевские СМИ объявили о возбуждении уголовного дела за клевету по заявлению фигуранта списка Магнитского Павла Карпова против Алексея Навального, активного сторонника санкций Магнитского.
«Действия российских властей имеют главной целью – запугать гражданское общество и заставить всех активных людей замолчать в страхе перед террором или покинуть страну. Российские власти делают все для того, чтобы в условиях уже и так практически полной цензуры, голос гражданских активистов не был услышан на Западе, чтобы «зачистить» туда дорогу прокремлевской дезинформации. Мы уверены в том, что Кремлю не удастся запугать всех и сломить стремление гражданского общества к справедливости», – сказал представитель «Справедливость для Сергея Магнитского».
Павел Карпов, подавший заявление о клевете в отношении Алексея Навального, на которое российские правоохранительные органы стремительно отреагировали возбуждением уголовного дела, – бывший следователь ГСУ МВД РФ по г. Москве, в отношении которого Магнитский дал показания о его причастности к мошеннической схеме, по которой были украдены компании международного фонда Hermitage и заплаченные ими в бюджет в виде налогов 5,4 миллиардов рублей. Доход многократно превышающий его официальную зарплату Карпов объяснял занятием параллельно с госслужбой в полиции предпринимательской деятельностью, связанной с дизайном и торговлей элитными винами.
В апреле 2013 года правительством США Карпов был включен в санкционный список Магнитского. В апреле 2014 года Карпов был включен в санкционный список Магнитского, одобренный Европарламентом.
Одновременно с атакой на гражданских активистов внутри страны лоббисты и адвокаты сына российского чиновника (№65 в списке богатейших чиновников России по данным «Форбс» Петра Кацыва) Дениса Кацыва, в отношении компаний которого Прокуратурой США подан иск об отмывании на территории США части 5,4 миллиардов рублей, похищенных из бюджета Российской Федерации в рамках мошеннической схемы, вскрытой Сергеем Магнитским, и имущество которого на 14 миллионов долларов заморожено по этому иску, пытаются оказать давление на американских конгрессменов и заставить их исключить имя Сергея Магнитского из наименования глобального законопроекта о правах человека. В рамках этой кампании они распространяют о нем лживую версию российских властей.
Для российского правозащитного сообщества принципиальным в глобальном законопроекте является имя Сергея Магнитского как символа противостояния беззаконию и нарушению прав человека.
В заявлении Людмилы Алексеевой, главы Московской Хельсинкской группы, направленном руководителю Комитета по международным делам Палаты представителей Конгресса, говорится:
«Он [Сергей Магнитский] раскрыл для всех, что сегодняшние нарушители прав человека ценят более всего: деньги, которые они украли у собственного народа. Устранение имени Сергея Магнитского из текста законопроекта было бы предательством всех жертв беззакония во всем мире, которым Сергей Магнитский дал надежду, а также предательством тех самых принципов, за которые он заплатил своей жизнью.»
Программа «Справедливость для Сергея Магнитского»
+44 207 440 1777
e-mail: info@lawandorderinrussia.org
www.facebook.com/russianuntouchables
Twitter: @Billbrowder
German TV Station ZDF Confirmed It Will Not Show Nekrasov’s Anti-Magnitsky Propaganda Film
May 16, 2016
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate distribution
German TV Station ZDF Confirmed It Will Not Show Nekrasov’s Anti-Magnitsky Propaganda Film
16 May 2016 – ZDF, a German public-service television broadcaster, has confirmed that they will not show Andrei Nerkrasov’s anti-Magnitsky propaganda film. Previously, Sergei Magnitsky’s widow and mother expressed their categorical objection to distribution in any form of the Nekrasov’s film about Sergei Magnitsky because of its false and slanderous content.
ZDF has now formally confirmed its commitment to not broadcast Nekrasov’s film. This follows a similar commitment by the French TV network ARTE.
“This film is full of lies and misinformation about the Magnitsky case,” said William Browder, leader of the global Justice campaign for Sergei Magnitsky and author of the New York Times best-seller “Red Notice: How I Became Putin’s No 1 Enemy.”
“It is my duty to Sergei’s memory and to his family to preserve the truth and protect his legacy,” continued Browder.
Nekrasov’s film contains false statements about Sergei Magnitsky, which are refuted by independent international bodies, including the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, comprising delegates from 47 states, the European Parliament, the US Department, and the US Congress, among others.
Russian human rights activists, including veteran dissident and head of the Moscow Helsinki Group Ludmila Alexeeva and Valery Borschev, head of the Moscow human rights commission, who investigated Magnitsky’s death, spoke out against the attempts by Andrei Nekrasov to spread the lies in this case for the benefit of those who have been exposed by Magnitsky’s testimony of involvement in the fraud and broader corruption arising out of Panama Papers, and are being affected by Magnitsky sanctions (Statement by Ludmila Alexeeva: http://www.novayagazeta.ru/politics/72940.html; Statement by Valery Borschev: http://www.novayagazeta.ru/politics/72931.html).
Nekrasov’s anti-Magnitsky film was scheduled for broadcast on ARTE, a Franco-German cultural TV network, on 3 May 2016. ARTE has cancelled the scheduled broadcast of Nekrasov’s anti-Magnitsky film, and ZDF has now confirmed that it will not show this film.
The decision not to broadcast Nekrasov’s film by ZDF and ARTE follow the earlier decision not to air the Nekrasov’s film at the European Parliament for similar reasons. The screening of Nekrasov’s film was originally scheduled there as a private initiative of Heidi Hautala, Andrei Nekrasov’s girlfriend and a member of the European parliament from Finland.
ZDF is based in Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate. It is run as an independent non-profit institution, which was founded by all federal states of Germany.
For more information, please contact:
Justice for Sergei Magnitsky
e-mail: info@lawandorderinrussia.org
Magnitsky Sanctions Law Introduced in the Canadian Parliament
May 13, 2016
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate distribution
Magnitsky Sanctions Law Introduced in the Canadian Parliament
13 May 2016 – Yesterday, the Conservative Party of Canada announced the introduction of the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials (Sergei Magnitsky Law) bill in House of Commons and the Senate simultaneously.
The Magnitsky bill was introduced by James Bezan MP, Member of Parliament for Selkirk-Interlake-Eastman, in the House of Commons, and The Hon. Raynell Andreychuk, Senator for Saskatchewan, in the Senate.
“The purpose of the Magnitsky Law is to sanction those who are committing serious human rights crimes within their countries, or the corrupt individuals who are stealing the assets of people,” said Mr Bezan, MP, on the bill introduction.
The Hon Irwin Cotler, former Justice Minister, and one of the strongest advocates of Magnitsky legislation in Canada, last year urged Canadian lawmakers to adopt the law:
“It is time…for us to treat Russian domestic human-rights violations as seriously as we do violations of political independence and territorial integrity… Countries that value human rights and the rule of law must use the measures at our disposal to hold violators to account and discourage future violations.”
The Canadian Magnitsky Law (C-267) and (S-226) provides for visa sanctions and asset freezes against foreign nationals responsible for gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.
Speaking about the effect of the Canadian Magnitsky Law, James Bezan, MP said:
“This would provide the tools and mechanisms to the government to ensure it can put in place the proper sanctions with respect to the travel and economic activity of those corrupt foreign officials without having to do it on a case-by-case basis.”
“More importantly, it also provides both the House of Commons and the Senate foreign affairs committees with the ability to look at who is on the different lists for sanctions around the world on an annual basis and report that back to the House.”
Before last year’s election, the Liberal Party of Canada, along with other political parties, promised to enact Magnitsky sanctions if they won. In particular, the Liberal Party said that a Liberal Government would introduce legislation, modelled on the US Magnitsky legislation, because of the belief that, “by imposing sanctions, we can impose meaningful penalties on human rights violators and deter future violations.”
Yet, after coming to power in November 2015, Canada’s new Prime Minister 44-years old Justin Trudeau reneged on his party’s election promise, suddenly changed course and decided to “re-engage” with Russia instead.
“This is a betrayal by Justin Trudeau of the principles that Boris Nemtsov and Sergei Magnitsky stood for and who gave their lives in the fight with corruption and human rights abuse,” said William Browder, leader of Global Magnitsky Justice campaign.
In 2012, Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov travelled to Canada to call on the Canadian government and politicians to adopt the Magnitsky Act. He was subsequently assassinated in front of the Kremlin.
Addressing a Canadian audience in Ottawa, three years before his murder, Boris Nemtsov said:
“Magnitsky was killed by prosecutors and prison management… Putin government supported the murderers. The idea of the [Magnitsky] Act is to implement sanctions against corrupt officials and others who are responsible for killing Magnitsky.” (See Full speech by Boris Nemtsov in Canada in 2012, starting after introduction at 4th min: http://www.ipolitics.ca/2015/03/02/when-nemtsov-came-to-ottawa/ )
“As a country with the low level of corruption and rule of law, Canada has to fight against criminals and against corruption. You are not against Russia, you are against corruption, against criminals. It will be very painful for Russian corrupt bureaucracy to get such kind of law from Canada. Very painful. Because corrupt system in Russia means that they have property outside of the country, they relax outside the country, they send their kids to get education outside,” said Boris Nemtsov, urging Canadian lawmakers and the Canadian Government to adopt Magnitsky law four years ago.
The US became the first country to enact the Magnitsky Legislation.
In December 2012, the US Congress adopted the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act which imposes targeted visa bans and asset freezes on persons involved in Sergei Magnitsky mistreatment, death, cover up and the criminal conspiracy he had uncovered.
In January 2014, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, comprising 47 states, called for the introduction of Magnitsky sanctions by member states in case of failure by Russian authorities to respond to the recommendations of its resolution, “Refusing Impunity for the Killers of Sergei Magnitsky”, to which Russia has failed to comply since.
In April 2014, the European Parliament adopted the Magnitsky Sanctions Resolution, listing 32 persons involved in Magnitsky case and urging the EU Council to adopt EU-wide sanctions.
For more information, please contact:
Justice for Sergei Magnitsky
+44 207 440 1777
e-mail: info@lawandorderinrussia.org
French TV Station ARTE Permanently Cancels Nekrasov’s Anti-Magnitsky Propaganda Film
May 9, 2016
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate distribution
French TV Station ARTE Permanently Cancels Nekrasov’s Anti-Magnitsky Propaganda Film
9 May 2016 – The French TV station, ARTE, has permanently cancelled the anti-Magnitsky propaganda film by Russian filmmaker Andrei Nekrasov.
French lawyer Safya Akorri who represents the widow of Sergei Magnitsky, and William Browder, the leader of the international justice campaign for Sergei Magnitsky, wrote to ARTE, submitting a list of false allegations made in Nekrasov’s film and presenting the evidence of their falsity.
ARTE has since cancelled the show scheduled for release on 3 May 2016 and officially informed their lawyers that they had no intention to show it at any point in the future.
ARTE’s decision follows the decision at the European Parliament on 27 April 2016 not to air the Nekrasov’s film for similar reasons. The screening of Nekrasov’s film was scheduled as a personal initiative of Nekrasov’s girlfriend, Heidi Hautala, a member of the European parliament from the Green Party in Finland.
Speaking about the decision by ARTE to cancel the film, William Browder, leader of Magnitsky justice campaign, said:
“There are many people who wish to avoid facing justice for Magnitsky’s death and the crimes he exposed by trying to destroy his memory and legacy. It is our duty to make sure this doesn’t happen.”
Andrei Nekrasov’s film on Sergei Magnitsky was prepared for release on ARTE’s European cultural channel on May 3, 2016 ignoring the fact that Sergei Magnitsky’s mother did not consent to the use of video footage of her.
“We are outraged that Mr. Nekrasov pretended that he sympathized with our grief,” said Nataliya Magnitskaya.
Nekrasov’s film, which claims to be a “documentary”, contains numerous false allegations against Sergei Magnitsky, which had been reviewed and refuted by independent Russian and international bodies, including the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, comprising delegates from 47 states, the European Parliament, the US Department, and the US Congress, among others.
The letter from Magnitsky’s mother and widow denounced any form of distribution of Nekrasov’s film which, they believe, used compromised methods characteristic of Kremlin propaganda films:
“Mr. Nekrasov is not unique, such misleading movies and programs are demonstrated in Russia on a regular basis to drag Sergei Magnitsky’s name through the mud and to justify the persons responsible for his death. Directors use fragments of interviews which are often taken by deceit, single sentences or even words are taken out of the context of the documents, certain phrases are turned inside out and acquire the opposite meaning, fragments of speeches are combined in a way necessary to manipulative individuals, according to the order.”
When the Magnitsky family learned about Nekrasov’s film, they issued a letter of protest against this latest anti-Magnitsky propaganda initiative. The Magnitsky family said:
“We think that the film by Andrei Nekrasov, which is based on his concoctions but not on the documents and facts, degrades the dignity of Sergei Magnitsky, degrades the deceased person who is unable to defend himself.”
“This movie is made in the interests of those who are scared of the truth uncovered by Sergei Magnitsky,”
said Magnitsky’s mother and widow.
Following the revelation of Nekrasov’s turn-around on Magnitsky case, questions have been raised as to what could explain it.
Andrei Nekrasov was previously known for films, including about poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko, which were produced by his wife, Olga Konskaya, who passed away in Germany in 2009. Andrei Nekrasov’s public stance on Putin’s Russia changed since at least March 2014 – the time of President Putin’s invasion in Ukraine.
In Andrei Nekrasov’s blog post of 21 March 2014 available on the website of ‘Echo of Moscow,’ Russian radio station, he expressed a strong anti-American sentiment, justifying Putin’s actions, saying:
“Why America (and allies) can violate international law, and Russia – not? Americans and Co violate it, and this is not Kremlin-Kiselev’s propaganda, it is a fact recognized by the international community;”
“Putin controls the imagination of the people, and this is not the result of him “usurping power…;”
“In the opinion of aggrieved Russians, Crimea is not subject to Budapest memorandum.”
For more information, please contact:
Justice for Sergei Magnitsky
+44 207 440 1777
e-mail: info@lawandorderinrussia.org
Russian Human Rights Defenders Slam Nekrasov and US Network NBC for Their Roles in Anti-Magnitsky Propaganda Campaign
May 5, 2016
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate distribution
Russian Human Rights Defenders Slam Nekrasov and US Network NBC for Their Roles in Anti-Magnitsky Propaganda Campaign
5 May 2016 – Prominent Russian human rights defenders have spoken out against Russian filmmaker Andrei Nekrasov and NBC reporter Ken Dilanian for their anti-Magnitsky propaganda campaign in Europe and the US.
Ludmila Alexeeva, Head of Moscow Helsinki Group
In a public letter published by ‘Novaya Gazeta‘ newspaper, Ludmila Alexeeva rebuked their misrepresentations of Magnitsky case, saying:
“I have no idea who specifically is behind this [Andrei Nekrasov’s] film and who hired the author, I have no idea. But one thing is clear – these are the people who are very interested to disavow the evidence of corruption, which started to emerge first with the case of Magnitsky (and thanks to Magnitsky), and continues to emerge, but on a global scale (such as the Panama leaks ).”
“The high-profile exposure of corruption was started specifically by Sergei Magnitsky, – said Ludmila Alexeeva. – That is why it is so important for the people complicit in the conspiracy to defame Magnitsky and the evidence which he made public. As a result, this film appeared… To try to show that everything – what Magnitsky first said, then the Panama leaks – are nonsense. What they want is to revoke sanctions. They decided to start with the disavowing of the Magnitsky list.”
A veteran Russian human rights defender, Ludmila Alexeeva, is one of the leading voices in Russian civil society advocating for Western Magnitsky sanctions as a tool to address the impunity in Russia of those responsible for Magnitsky’s torture and murder in detention.
Valery Borschev
Valery Borschev, another leading Russian human rights advocate and head of the Moscow Public Oversight Commission,an independent panel that investigated Magnitsky’s death since 2009, spoke out to quash the phony claims in Andrei Nekrasov’s film.
“The film [by filmmaker Nerkasov] tries to contradict everything that has been concluded by our Commission. …We looked at conditions of detention, torture, non-provision of medical care, violence which led to murder….I state firmly: the film does not reflect the true state of affairs in part concerning the detention of Magnitsky,” said Valery Borschev.
Russian human rights activists castigated the false claims in Nekrasov’s film that Magnitsky was not beaten in custody, did not testify against corrupt police officers, and that Magnitsky himself committed the crime he had uncovered. These claims are contradicted by evidence of Magnitsky’s beating from both the Russian government and the Magnitsky family, his investigation into the fraud and complaints filed three weeks before the US$230 million were stolen, official written records of his testimony, and conclusions reached by Russian and international bodies who conducted independent investigations. These false claims have previously been refuted on numerous occasions, but are now being rekindled by Russian filmmaker Andrei Nekrasov in his anti-Magnitsky film in Europe, and echoed by Ken Dilanian, NBC News off-air correspondent in the United States.
In his written questions to the ‘Justice for Sergei Magnitsky’ campaign last week, reporter Ken Dilanian claimed that he and his team at NBC found “no evidence” of Sergei’s Magnitsky’s beating before he died, despite publicly available records, independent reports and photographs from Magnitsky’s autopsy. Dilanian also claimed he found “no evidence” of Magnitsky’s testimony against police before his arrest. This is despite Magnitsky naming in testimony before his arrest officers Kuznetsov and Karpov 14 times and 13 times respectively.
Andrei Nekrasov, Russian filmmaker
Ken Dilanian, NBC News off-air reporter
According to the NBC News website, prior to suddenly taking on the Magnitsky story, Ken Dilanian had never reported on Russian affairs or human rights.
Mr. Dilanian joined NBC News as off-air correspondent at the end of 2015. In his previous job with the Los Angeles Times, he was compromised for permitting his close relationships with sources to influence his reporting.
In an open letter to Steve Burke, CEO of NBC Universal, published in the Russian newspaper ‘Novaya Gazeta’, Valery Borschev condemned the false claims, citing the investigation conducted by the Moscow Public Oversight Commission which he chaired immediately after the death of Sergei Magnitsky and as part of the working group of the Russian President’s Human Rights Council.
“The investigation of documents, submitted by law enforcement bodies to the working group, led members of the Public Oversight Commission to the conviction that Sergei Magnitsky was subjected to violence before his death… There is a document, dated 16.11.2009, signed by deputy head of detention center Markin, and eye witnesses Borovkov and Larin, which said: “rubber baton was applied,” “handcuffs were applied,” – ie he was beaten while handcuffed by rubber baton,” said ValeryBorschevinhislettertoCEOofNBCUniversal Steve Burke.
The Russian state-sponsored anti-Magnitsky propaganda began after Russian President Vladimir Putin adopted a foreign policy decree in May 2011, instructing Russian government bodies to fight US sanctions. It then escalated after a December 2012 press conference by Vladimir Putin, in which he was asked about Sergei Magnitsky numerous times, and where he denied that Magnitsky had died from torture and promised to “delve deeper” into the case. The new escalation of propaganda follows a press conference earlier this year, in which Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov implied new revelations on the Magnitsky case to fight the US Magnitsky Act.
On 27 April 2016, Andrei Nekrasov planned an anti-Magnitsky event at the European parliament in Brussels to show his new defamatory film with help from his girlfriend, Finnish MEP Heidi Hautala.
It is understood that Ken Dilanian planned his story with NBC News for the same day, 27 April 2016.
On 27 April 2016, the widow and mother of Sergei Magnitsky wrote to members of the European parliament, stating their categorical protest against any demonstration of the defamatory and false film about Sergei Magnitsky anywhere, and especially in the European Parliament.
“Through this letter, Sergei’s family expresses its highly negative reaction to the movie, its protest against unconscionable attempts to blacken the name of Sergei Magnitsky. We are categorically against the public demonstration of the film by Andrei Nekrasov, against the distribution of the film in any way,” said the Magnitsky family.
The film “premiere” at the European parliament was cancelled.
ARTE, European culture network, who planned to air the anti-Magnitsky film on 3 May 2016, cancelled it as well.
For more information, please contact:
Justice for Sergei Magnitsky
+44 207 440 1777
e-mail: info@lawandorderinrussia.org
www.facebook.com/russianuntouchables
Prominent Russian human rights defenders who conducted an independent investigation of Magnitsky case, have spoken out against the new wave of anti-Magnitsky propaganda and its enablers.
Statement by Ludmila Alexeeva, Head of the Moscow Helsinki Group and Chair of the Russian President’s Human Rights Council’s Working Group on the investigation of death of Sergei Magnitsky, 3 May 2016: http://www.novayagazeta.ru/politics/72940.html
Statement by Valery Borschev, head of the Moscow Public Oversight Commission which investigated the circumstances of death in detention of Sergei Magnitsky, 2 May 2016: http://www.novayagazeta.ru/politics/72931.html
Results of search for Dilanian and “human rights” on NBC News website for 2016:
“Dilanian” and “human rights” produces two stories in 2016
Trump Needs His ‘Own Damn Bucket’ to Waterboard: Ex-CIA Chief …
Feb 22, 2016 … by Ken Dilanian …. Laura Pitter, senior national security counsel for Human Rights Watch, says it’s worrisome that major GOP candidates are …
www.nbcnews.com/…/trump-needs-his-own-damn-bucket-waterboard-ex-cia -chief-n523576
Spy Kid: A Young CIA Officer Breaks Cover and Spills Secrets – NBC …
Apr 1, 2016 … by Ken Dilanian … the battlefield,” in the CIA’s euphemistic phrase for killing human targets with …. “And this is me going, `You’re right, I wasn’t.
www.nbcnews.com/…/spy-kid-young-cia-officer-breaks-cover-spills-secrets- n548846
Previous post by Andrei Nekrasov with pro-Putin and anti-American sentiments published on Echo of Moscow blog, 21 March 2014: http://echo.msk.ru/blog/andnekrasov/1283896-echo/
Andrei Nekrasov, Russian filmmaker turned anti-Magnitsky campaigner, previously claimed:
- “Americans and Company” violate international law and that “this is not Kremlin-Kiselyov’s propaganda, it is a fact recognized by the international community.”
- “Putin controls the imagination of the people, and this is not the result of him “usurping power.”
- “In the opinion of aggrieved Russians, Crimea is not subject to Budapest memorandum.”
For more information please visit