SDIR Committee Meeting

The Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development met in a televised session at 1:00 p.m. this day, in Room 253-D, Centre Block, the Chair, Scott Reid, presiding.

It was agreed, — The Subcommittee proceed to the consideration of matters related to Subcommittee business.

David Sweet moved, — That the routine motion adopted by the Subcommittee on International Human Rights on March 17, 2010 regarding in camera meetings be rescinded and replace with the following:

“That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to have one staff at in camera meetings and that one additional person from each party be allowed to be present”.

Debate arose thereon.

On motion of Johanne Deschamps, it was agreed, — That the motion be amended in the French version by replacing the words “qu'une personne supplémentaire par” with the words “qu'une autre personne de chaque”.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

« Que, à moins qu’il en soit ordonné autrement, chaque membre du comité soit autorisé à être accompagné d’un membre de son personnel aux séances à huis clos et qu'une autre personne de chaque parti soit autorisée à être présente ».

It was agreed, — That the Subcommittee resume the consideration of the motion moved by Irwin Cotler on Tuesday, November 23, 2010 which reads as follows:

That the Subcommittee condemn the systematic abuse of Sergei Magnitsky – including his arbitrary arrest, torture, and death in custody – by those Russian officials implicated in the largest known corporate tax fraud and misappropriation of assets in Russian history, that Sergei Magnitsky sought to expose;

That the Subcommittee deplore the denial by Russian Federation authorities of any justice or legal remedies to Mr. Magnitsky during the nearly twelve months he was detained without trial in torturous conditions, before his death in an isolation cell on November 16, 2009;

That the Subcommittee denounce the ongoing impunity – and indeed rewarding – of Russian officials for their involvement in the corporate tax fraud and related corruption, and the arbitrary arrest, torture and death in detention of Sergei Magnitsky, and subsequent cover-up of their crimes;

That the Subcommittee call upon the Government of Canada to impose visa restrictions and asset freezes on those Russian officials where there is documented evidence supporting their implication in the corporate tax fraud corruption, and the arbitrary arrest, torture and death in detention of Sergei Magnitsky, and subsequent cover-up of their crimes; and

That the Subcommittee call upon the Russian Federation to conduct a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation into:

a) the detention, torture, and resulting death in custody of Sergei Magnitsky;

b) the identification of Russian officials implicated in the largest tax fraud in Russian history; and

c) that the individuals responsible be brought to justice pursuant to the laws of the Russian Federation and its international legal obligations

and the amendment moved by David Sweet which reads as follows:

That the motion be amended by adding after the words “Government of Canada” the following: “to explore options”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of David Sweet and it was agreed to.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That the Subcommittee condemn the systematic abuse of Sergei Magnitsky – including his arbitrary arrest, torture, and death in custody – by those Russian officials implicated in the largest known corporate tax fraud and misappropriation of assets in Russian history, that Sergei Magnitsky sought to expose;

That the Subcommittee deplore the denial by Russian Federation authorities of any justice or legal remedies to Mr. Magnitsky during the nearly twelve months he was detained without trial in torturous conditions, before his death in an isolation cell on November 16, 2009;

That the Subcommittee denounce the ongoing impunity – and indeed rewarding – of Russian officials for their involvement in the corporate tax fraud and related corruption, and the arbitrary arrest, torture and death in detention of Sergei Magnitsky, and subsequent cover-up of their crimes;

That the Subcommittee call upon the Government of Canada to explore options to impose visa restrictions and asset freezes on those Russian officials where there is documented evidence supporting their implication in the corporate tax fraud corruption, and the arbitrary arrest, torture and death in detention of Sergei Magnitsky, and subsequent cover-up of their crimes; and That the Subcommittee call upon the Russian Federation to conduct a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation into:

a) the detention, torture, and resulting death in custody of Sergei Magnitsky;

b) the identification of Russian officials implicated in the largest tax fraud in Russian history; and

c) that the individuals responsible be brought to justice pursuant to the laws of the Russian Federation and its international legal obligations .

The witness made a statement and answered questions.

At 2:00 p.m., the Subcommittee adjourned to the call of the Chair.