Pussy Riot to lead tribute to Sergei Magnitsky at UK parliament on fifth anniversary of his murder in Russian police custody

This month marks the fifth anniversary of the killing in Russian police custody of 37-year-old anti-corruption lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who exposed a $230 million fraud perpetrated by Russian government officials and organized criminals.

While his death ignited worldwide condemnation and led to numerous political and legal calls for justice around the globe, five years on there is still no justice in Russia for Sergei Magnitsky.

To mark the memory of Sergei Magnitsky and the fight against corruption which he gave his life for, politicians, artists, journalists and campaigners will gather in London on Tuesday 18 November 2014 to participate in a major panel by Henry Jackson Society to be held at the British parliament.

The session chaired by Chris Bryant, MP, is entitled ‘Prospects for Russia after Putin: Five Years from the Death of Sergei Magnitsky.’

Among the panelists are members of the Russian punk protest group Pussy Riot, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alekhina, who were previously jailed in Russia for staging an anti-Putin protest in a Moscow church. Also participating will be Hon Irwin Cotler MP, former General Prosecutor of Canada, who represented prisoners of conscience Nathan Sharansky and Nelson Mandela; former Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov; environmental activist and opposition leader Evgenia Chirikova; and Franco-Russo journalist Elena Servettaz, author of the book, Why Europe Needs a Magnitsky Law.

“This event will commemorate Sergei Magnitsky’s legacy by bringing together some of the top human rights campaigners to discuss Russia after Putin, and if there is a chance for the kind of Russia that Sergei Magnitsky believed in,” said a Magnitsky Justice Campaign representative.

Sergei Magnitsky was a 37-year-old lawyer and outside counsel for the Hermitage Fund, who was tortured to death in Russian Interior Ministry custody after he testified about the involvement of Interior Ministry officials in the theft of his client’s companies and the $230 million theft. The Russian officials responsible for his arrest, torture and killing were absolved from any responsibility, promoted and decorated with state honours.

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To register your attendance at the Magnitsky event, please go to Henry Jackson Society website.

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