Statements of Support (2003-2013) / Stuart, Gisela MP

“I’m Gisela Stuart. I’m the Labour MP for Birmingham Edgbaston. I’m a member of the foreign affairs committee and I also chair the International transatlantic security group. I have been working with Russia and many countries over many years. I know Russia could play, and should play a very positive role as part of its role as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. It should use its powers constructively, and there was a period when we thought it would do that. But what things like this trial show, is that unfortunately Russia isn’t using its powers the way it ought to. It isn’t respecting human rights the way it says it should do. I want trials like this to be a part of Russia’s past. If Russia wants to be a part of the economic, international and political community, it needs to comply with the rule of law. It needs to respect human rights. And it must not have politically motivated trials like this one. I hope they will see sense and change their mind”

Gisela Stuart MP, Member of the UK’s Foreign Affairs Select Committee, and Chair of the Transatlantic and International Security Group, January 22, 2010