http://worldmeets.us/images/MarchAgainstScoundrels_pic.png

The 'March Against Scoundrels,' one of the largest opposition rallies

of the Putin era earlier this year. The suspicious death of lawyer 38-

year-old Sergei Magnitsky, thought to be a murder-cover-up in the

West and a Russian law prohibiting the adoption of Russian orphans

by Americans were the triggers for the march.

 

 

European Reporter Battles for U.S.-Style Magnitsky Act (Le Figaro, France)

 

"The rights of those guilty of violent abuses of human rights, whoever and wherever they are, will have their dirty money seized and travel in democratic countries restricted, particularly in the United States and Europe, where they most enjoy spending their money. Let's hope that the same energy being devoted to fighting tax havens will also be devoted to the fight against anyone flouting the rights of every citizen."

 

By Jean-Sébastien Stehli

                                          http://blog.lefigaro.fr/obamazoom/stehli.jpg

 

Translated By Sybil Gilchrist

 

December 1, 2013

 

France - Le Figaro - Original Article (French)

Russian-French journalist Elena Servettaz has written a book called Why Europe Needs a Magnitsky Law: Should the E.U. Follow the US? Sergei Magnitsky's death in a Russian prison, after implicating top officials for tax fraud, is widely regarded as a murder-cover-up in the West, and resulted in the U.S. Magnitsky Act, which targets Russian officials responsible for his death.

 

WEB VIDEO: 'Why Europe Needs a Magnitsky Law' book presentation by Hermitage Capital Management's Bill Browder, journalist Elena Servettaz, and the Economist's Edward Lucas, Nov. 4, 00:04:00RealVideo

The climate of pessimism in the American capital has been compounded by the fiasco surrounding the implementation of health care reform - "Obamacare." So far, hardly10,000 Americans have been able to register on the Web site created specifically to compare the costs and services of insurance providers and sign up.

 

However, in the midst of this climate of doom and gloom, "ordinary" citizens are showing that a single person can change the course of history. On November 16, during a reception organized by Freedom House President David J. Kramer, Russian-French journalist Elena Servettaz presented her book: Why Europe Needs a Magnitsky Law: Should the E.U. Follow the US?

 

A news anchor and staff correspondent for RFI (Radio France Internationale) and a contributor to Russian and American media, Elena Servettaz put together a series of essays from 54 contributors from around the world who are all deeply concerned about the Magnitsky Affair. 

 

It's been almost four years to the day since 37-year-old lawyer Sergei Magnitsky died in a Moscow prison, beaten to death by his captors. His crime? Uncovering the largest tax fraud ever committed in Russia. It gets better! The fraud was the work of government officials allied with a mafia-style gang (although the distinction between the two is sometimes difficult to discern). Magnitsky, a lawyer for American businessman William Browder, noticed the disappearance of $230 million from the Russian state. When he sought to take the case to court, he was arrested by officials connected to the embezzlement.

 

It was a year ago that the United States Congress passed the Magnitsky Act, prohibiting entry into the United States by anyone with a role in Magnitsky's death. The black list is not complete. As new perpetrators are revealed, their names are added to the list of shame.

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Elena Servettaz, who covered the Sergei Magnitsky case as a journalist and is one of the leading experts on grassroots opposition movements and activists in Russia, had the idea for a project to bring together members of the European Union to consider the adoption of a Magnitsky Law for Europe. She asked people as diverse as Putin opponent Alexei Navalni, U.S. Senator John McCain, and even the father of one of the members of Pussy Riot to contribute to the debate on such legislation.

 

Elena Servettaz is part of the old tradition of "muckrakers," which emerged out of the scandals of early 20th century America - investigative reporters whose work contributed significantly to reforming society. Among the most celebrated are Lincoln Steffens and H.L. Mencken, and more recently, I.F. Stone and Seymour Hersch.

 

http://worldmeets.us/images/Magnitsky-Lincoln-Steffens_mug.pnghttp://worldmeets.us/images/Magnitisky-HL-Mencken_mug.pnghttp://worldmeets.us/images/Magnitsky-IF-Stone_mug.pnghttp://worldmeets.us/images/Magnitisky-Seymour-Hersch_mug.png

Lincoln Steffens, H.L. Mencken, I.F. Stone and Seymour Hersch:

journalists that have followed the motto 'afflict the comfortable,

and comfort the afflicted.'

 

The result of this remarkable work, Why Europe needs a Magnitsky Law, has just been published. Elena Servettaz has already promoted her book in five countries, making presentations in the British Parliament, the French Senate, the European Parliament, the Dutch Parliament in The Hague, Washington, D.C., and the Harriman Institute of Columbia University in New York.

 

This book and the advocacy of [Magnitsky's former employer] William Browder mark the beginning of a new era of human rights. First came the "duty to intervene" championed by Doctors Without Borders in the wake of the 1968 Biafran War [present-day Nigeria]. This new stage is more attuned to globalization and development of the mafia state: the rights of those guilty of violent abuses of human rights, whoever and wherever they are, will have their dirty money seized and travel in democratic countries restricted, particularly in the United States and Europe, where they most enjoy spending their money. Let's hope that the same energy being devoted to fighting tax havens will also be devoted to the fight against anyone flouting the rights of every citizen.

 

Elena Servettaz's book may trigger an avalanche, just as a simple snowball starts down the slopes, soon becoming a force that sweeps away everything in its path.

 

SEE ALSO ON THIS:
Moskovskij Komsomolets, Russia: Snowden: Putin's Perfect 'Anti-Magnitisky' Weapon
Moskovskij Komsomolets, Russia: Russian Press 'Duped'; Bill Halting U.S. Adoptions Proceeds
Kommersant, Russia: Russia's Image Smeared By Law Punishing Orphans
Izvestia, Russia: Duma Reaction to Magnitsky Bill Deals Blow to Orphans - and Duma
Svoboda News, Russia: Senators in U.S. Get Cold Shoulder Over Magnitsky Act
RAI Novosti, Russia: Russian Government Split on Adoption Law
Moskovskij Komsomolets, Russia: Opposition Must ‘Learn to Swim’ – Not Complain to U.S.
Yezhednevniy Zhurnal, Russia: The Magnitsky List, America’s ‘Secret’ Weapon!
Kommersant, Russia: U.S. Magnitsky Act to Trigger 'Harsh Backlash'
Voice of Russia, Russia: Russian Opposition Wants Magnitsky List Expanded
Gazeta, Russia: Good Guys vs. Bad Guys: Russia Today is the Latter
Gazeta, Russia: America is Neither Friend Nor Foe
MK, Russia: Obama's ‘Hope’ Keeps Putin from ‘Window on Paradise’

 

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Posted By Worldmeets.US Nov. 30, 2013, 10:43pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

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