UK lawmakers in pocket of Russian politicians – Browder

The Russian government and individuals are paying members of the UK political establishment to prevent sanctions designations being made under the Magnitsky Amendment – and succeeding in their efforts.

So says Bill Browder, architect and proponent of the Magnitsky Act in the United States and beyond, addressing a UK parliamentary inquiry into the use of sanctions.

In his evidence, Browder said that following the enactment of the Financial Sanctions Act (which includes the Magnitsky Amendment) in the summer of 2018, he expected swift implementation of the law, noting that in all the other countries in which similar acts have been passed – including the United States, Canada, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia – sizeable numbers of designations have been made of Russians and others, for human rights abuses; whilst in the UK by comparison, ‘that number is zero.’

Browder refuted the official reason given, he says, by the government for its failure to take steps under the act – which is that it isn’t possible for it to do anything until after the UK’s departure from the European Union, arguing that not only did he have it on good academic and legal authority that the UK is not so prevented, but also that Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are also EU Member States which have made Magnitsky designations.

‘I’m sad to say,’ he said, ‘that people connected to the political process are trying to influence the government to not make life difficult [for those that might be included on such a list].’

Such people, he said, included members of the House of Lords, who had received money from individuals, and former government officials and advisers who had received money to [minimise] sanctions consequences. Browder said he would provide evidence in writing or closed session.

Browder said he advocated an absolute ban on UK lawmakers lobbying on behalf of foreign governments (which he described as ‘happening in plain sight and without consequences’) and supported the enactment of a law comparable to the US Foreign Agents Registration Act.

‘[The UK] is the go-to country for dictators and kleptocrats – because they know that they won’t be harassed…It requires a complete change in government culture in how to deal with them,’ he said.

The proceedings of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee can be watched at:
https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/7d134547-5e74-4b7e-a055-133c0e24e275