GAZPROM, HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE RULE OF LAW

Early day motion 2094, tabled 4 May 2006 by Lord Bruce of Bennachie (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 20 members.

That this House notes that the Russian gas producer Gazprom is state-owned and that it has acquired assets from Yukos that are the subject of international litigation and that Yukos executives are being given asylum in the UK and that others in Russia have been imprisoned in extremely questionable circumstances even though Russia is a member of the Council of Europe and a signatory to the European Convention of Human Rights; further notes that, while the Duma has passed legislation to allow limited foreign ownership of Gazprom, this is an unattractive option given both the litigation and the recent history; and therefore calls on the Russian government to act swiftly to give justice to former Yukos executives, to honour its international obligations on human rights in accordance with its obligations as a member of the G8, and to give categorical assurances on the practicalities and safeguards for reciprocal rights for international investors in Gazprom.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 16, Conservative 2, Labour 2.