OSCE, Alm.del - 2011-12 - Bilag 45: Optegnelser fra den årlige session i Monaco

Thank you for the opportunity to join you this afternoon.Let me recognize my fellow members of Congress, Dennis Cardoza and Robert Aderholt, who aredoing great work on behalf of the American delegation. I am pleased that Robert is standing for vicepresident of this assembly, and I want to voice my full support for his candidacy.It is also my pleasure to support this resolution on rule of law in Russia and the case of Sergei [SER-gay] Magnitsky. What happened to Sergei was a horrific crime. But it is also an example -- anextreme example, to be sure, but an example nonetheless -- of the pervasive and systemiccorruption in the Russian government. To this day, no one -- not one person -- has ever been heldresponsible for Sergei's death. This, despite the fact that the Russian Human Rights Council,established by the Russian President, found that Sergei's arrest was illegal, that he was deniedaccess to justice, and that his treatment amounted to torture. This resolution correctly notes thesedisturbing facts.The demand for justice for Sergei is what has mobilized the world in his memory. In the UnitedStates, Senator Ben Cardin and I introduced legislation that would impose an array of penalties onthose believed to be responsible for Sergei's death, but also on other human rights abusers in Russiaand beyond. The Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act has been passed by our ForeignRelations Committee, and no matter what you hear, make no mistake: It will become law. And it willcontain the full array of essential measures—visa bans, asset freezes, and financial sanctions. Iassure you of it.The Congress now has a path to pass this legislation. I and others have made clear that doing so isthe condition for repeal of the Jackson-Vanik amendment and extension of Permanent Normal TradeRelations to Russia, which I have also sponsored legislation to enact.Other European legislatures, as well as the European Parliament, have condemned Sergei's murderand may take legislative action as well. Now, this resolution offers an opportunity for all of us,legislators from more than 50 nations, to speak with one voice in favor of the justice that Sergei andhis family deserve. It is essential that we do so.I know that some will try to paint this resolution as anti-Russia. I could not disagree more. Indeed, Ibelieve it is pro-Russia, as are the pieces of national legislation that would punish those guilty ofSergei's death. I believe that supporting the rule of law is pro-Russia. I believe that defending theinnocent and punishing the guilty is pro-Russia. And ultimately, I believe the virtues that SergeiMagnitsky embodied—integrity, fair-dealing, fidelity to truth and justice, and the deepest love ofcountry, which does not turn a blind eye to the failings of one's government, but seeks to remedythem by insisting on the highest standards—this too is pro-Russia, and I would submit that itrepresents the future that most Russians want for themselves and their country.The example that Sergei set during his brief life is now inspiring more and more Russian citizens.They are standing up and speaking up in favor of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. They, likeus, do not want Russia to be weak and unstable. They want it to be a successful and just and lawful

Statement by Senator John McCain

At the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly

Sunday, July 8, 2012