Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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120. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the Magnitsky Act; if there has been discussion on this at EU level; if it has been raised at the EU Foreign Affairs Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14321/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Sergei Magnitsky in 2009 remain deeply disturbing. From the outset, the EU called on the Russian authorities to conduct a comprehensive and independent investigation, and has criticised their failure to clarify the circumstances surrounding Mr. Magnitsky’s death. A number of countries, including some EU Member States, have put in place national “Magnitsky Acts” freezing the assets of, and withholding visas from, certain Russian officials believed to have acted in violation of human rights. The question of the nature and scope of EU sanctions is always complex and difficult. The adoption of sanctions requires a unanimous decision of the Council. As the Deputy will be aware, EU economic sanctions have been in place against Russia since 2014 in response to its illegal annexation of Crimea and its further actions to destabilise Ukraine.

To date Ireland has raised its concerns regarding human rights in Russia directly with the Russian authorities and through the EU, the Council of Europe and at the UN Human Rights Council. In 2016, the Foreign Affairs Council agreed five principles to guide EU relations with Russia. Key amongst these is strengthened support for civil society in Russia, a position which Ireland fully endorses.

The question of further EU measures against Russia is likely to be considered over the coming period.