Russian Government Extends the Case Investigation into Sergei Magnitsky’s Death, with No New Suspects, while His Unprecedented Posthumous Prosecution Carries On
April 25, 2012
The Russian government has extended, for the 12th time, the investigation into the death in jail of whistle-blowing lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky. The previous deadline, which expired today has now been extended to 24 July 2012: this, despite no new suspects being identified and no new charges brought. The investigation remains under the control of the same Russian officials who are conflicted and compromised by their known roles in Magnitsky’s persecution and the concealment of the corruption he had uncovered. The Russian government claims that the death of Magnitsky, a healthy 37-year old prior to his detention, where he was kept for 358 days without trial in inhumane conditions, was “an inevitable event for which no one was to blame”. Read more
ДЕЛЕГАТЫ ПАСЕ ПОТРЕБОВАЛИ МЕЖДУНАРОДНОГО РАССЛЕДОВАНИЯ ДЕЛА СЕРГЕЯ МАГНИТСКОГО
April 25, 2012
Вчера на весенней сессии ПАСЕ (Парламентской Ассамблеи Совета Европы) в Страсбурге парламентарии подписали требование о международном расследовании дела Сергея Магнитского под эгидой Совета Европы. Под требованием, озаглавленным «Не допустить безнаказанность убийц Сергея Магнитского», стоят подписи 69 депутатов из 29 стран-членов Совета Европы.
В заявлении депутатов ПАСЕ говорится:
«ПАСЕ считает, что дело Сергея Магнитского требует пристального внимания международного сообщества… ПАСЕ еще в октябре 2009 года высказывалась в защиту соблюдения прав Сергея Магнитского, тогда когда он был еще жив. В целях сохранения целостности ПАСЕ и авторитета Российской Федерации как ее члена, Ассамблея Совета Европы обязана при полном содействии со стороны России подготовить специальный доклад по данному вопросу, полностью прояснив это символическое дело.» Read more
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Takes Steps Towards Launching an International Investigation into the Murder of Sergei Magnitsky
April 25, 2012
Yesterday, at the Spring Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) meeting in Strasbourg, 69 members of Parliament from 29 countries signed a motion entitled: “Refusing impunity for the killers of Sergei Magnitsky”. The motion calls for a ‘dedicated report’ to investigate the death of Sergei Magnitsky and return the findings to the Assembly at a later date this year. Read more
European Commission Calls for Magnitsky’s Torturers to Be Brought to Justice
April 20, 2012
At a midday European Commission briefing today, the spokesman for the European Justice Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom made a strong statement calling upon the Russian Federation to bring to justice the torturers of late whistle-blowing lawyer Sergei Magnitsky and to stop his posthumous prosecution.
Commissioner Malmstrom’s spokesperson said:
“You know the case of Mr Magnitsky, the lawyer who was killed. This is an issue which has been raised by Commissioner Malmstrom on a number of occasions and every time that she has met the Russian authorities and she has called on the Russian authorities to shed full light on this extremely controversial issue.” Read more
Heavy-Weight Sponsors Submit New Strengthened Magnitsky Bill to the U.S. House of Representatives
April 20, 2012
Tonight, a new strengthened version of the Magnitsky Bill was submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives calling for asset freezes and visa bans on anyone involved in the persecution of late whistle-blowing lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, the Russian government conspiracy he had uncovered and the subsequent cover-up of these crimes. The Bill also imposes similar sanctions on other gross human rights abusers.
“Sergei Magnitsky was brutally tortured and allowed to die in detention because he had the courage to stand up to Russian authorities on behalf of the truth. This bill honors his memory by holding accountable not only those individuals responsible for his abuse and death, but also others who have committed gross human rights violations. Enacting the bill would powerfully demonstrate that the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms is a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy,” said Congressman McGovern, Co-chairman of the U.S. Congressional Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and the original sponsor of the Bill in the previous Congress. Read more