Source: HRO.org (info), 25/11/11

· Human rights defenders · Prisoners · Ministry of Internal Affairs · Prosecutor’s Office · Moscow city & Moscow region

The Presidential Council on Civil Society and Human Rights has set up two working parties in connection with the case of Sergei Magnitsky.

As Mikhail Fedotov, who heads the Council, told ITAR-TASS what is at issue is not only the investigation into the death of Sergei Magnitsky, but also the criminal charges brought against Sergeo Magnitsky himself.

According to Mikhail Fedotov, the Council has set up the first working party to liaise with the Investigative Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the second to liaise with the federal-level Investigative Committee, which is investigating the death of Sergei Magnitsky.

Mikhail Fedotov added that the main task of the working parties will be the resolution of contradictions that have arisen between the conclusions of the federal-level Investigative Committee, the Investigative Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Presidential Council, over the Sergei Magnitsky case.

Mikhail Fedotov believes that the contradictions may have arisen as a result of the various bodies having different sources of information.

As the Rosbalt News Agency points out, on 24 November at a special meeting the members of the Council signed a Memorandum on Cooperation with the federal-level Investigative Committee. The Memorandum formally establishes co-operation between the two bodies in the sphere of the protection of human and civil rights and freedoms, on issues related to the development of civil society in Russia, and the improvement of mechanisms of public oversight of the observance of human and civil rights and freedoms.

Sergei Magnitsky died in a Moscow pre-trial detention centre in November 2009. According to the General Prosecutor’s Office, the death of Sergei Magnitsky was caused by heart failure. His death sparked a public outcry.