The house of Commons of the UK Parliament adopted an amendment to the legislation aimed at combating the laundering of illicit funds through the purchase of UK residential property by foreign officials who violate human rights in any country of the world, the initiative was caused by the employee of Fund Hermitage Capital of Sergei Magnitsky, wrote on Tuesday the newspaper “the independent”.
“These measures will send a clear message that the United Kingdom will not stand by and let those who have committed serious abuses and violations around the world, to launder their money here,” said Deputy interior Minister of Britain Ben Wallace, addressing the house of Commons.
We are talking about one of those official persons of foreign States who have committed abuse against corruption fighters and human rights activists abroad. The British authorities will be able to freeze their assets in the UK.
“The independent” notes that previously a group of 50 deputies from eight British parties demanded to amend the penal law. One of the deputies noted that the initiative was caused by the employee of Fund Hermitage Capital of Sergei Magnitsky.
However, the home office is the British government Department responsible for immigration control, security and order – has refused to consider the new measures that is comparable to the so-called “Magnitsky act” adopted in the United States, the publication adds.
In addition, the home office did not recognize the right of a third party to claim from the British government’s measures against alleged foreign human rights violators.
Magnitsky was arrested on charges of tax evasion, died in Moscow pre-trial detention on 16 November 2009. His colleagues, co-founder of Hermitage Capital, William Browder, the head of the British company Firestone Duncan Jamison Firestone said that Magnitsky was arrested after he exposed corruption schemes involving some officials and employees of the interior Ministry.
11 July 2013, the Tver court of Moscow sentenced Browder to nine years in prison on charges of tax evasion amounting to more than 522 million rubles through falsifying tax returns and illegal use of benefits intended for the disabled. In this crime the court found him guilty and the deceased Magnitsky.
