MEP calls for entry ban on those involved in Russian lawyers’ death

The Parliament

The EU has been urged to impose an entry ban for “all people” incriminated in the death of a Russian anti-corruption lawyer.

Sergei Magnitsky is said to have uncovered what he described as a ‘web of corruption’ involving Russian tax officials.

He is said to have uncovered the theft of more than €152m and, after reporting it to the authorities, he was himself detained on suspicion of aiding tax evasion, and died in custody on 16 November 2009 at the age of 37.

The lawyer’s colleagues insist the case against him was fabricated to make him halt his investigation into a number of high-profile corrupt officials.

Green MEP Werner Schulz, deputy chairman of the EU-Russia parliamentary cooperation committee, has praised the late lawyer for “daring” to speak out against alleged corruption in his country.

The deputy has now called for a travel ban on anyone allegedly involved in the lawyer’s death.

A report on Russia, drafted by Schulz, was adopted by parliament last week.

On Tuesday, he said, “The adoption of this report shows that parliament is as clear as ever that any cooperation with the Russian Federation must be conditional on the respect by Russia of democratic standards and compliance with fundamental human rights and the rule of law.

“In his recent state of the nation speech, Vladimir Putin lamented the country’s so-called moral decline. At the same time a flood of restrictive and immoral laws maintain a stranglehold on civil society.

“Any hopes that the controversial president could loosen the reins of the ‘managed democracy’ have faded.”

He pointed out that MEPs had supported his proposal by a large majority and called for the immediate release of detained members of the punk band Pussy Riot.

He added that he expects European commission president José Manuel Barroso and council president Hermann Van Rompuy to repeat this demand to Putin at the upcoming EU-Russia summit.

He added, “For years now Russia has been viewed and discussed as an indispensable strategic partner of the EU. But vast natural resources and exports of western technology and consumer goods have not led to any strategic cooperation.

“Corruption and arbitrary behaviour by the authorities are not consistently opposed, as in the case of the lawyer Magnitsky who dared to uncover a hugely complex network of corruption.

“Unlike the officials guilty of his death, he is still being persecuted, even posthumously. Visa liberalisation without binding human rights criteria is not acceptable.

“The EU should impose an entry ban for all people incriminated in the Magnitsky case and should simultaneously facilitate visas for Russian citizens.” онлайн займ займ на карту онлайн https://zp-pdl.com/emergency-payday-loans.php https://zp-pdl.com/online-payday-loans-cash-advances.php hairy girl