The  European Commission will present the proposal on the European Magnitsky Act, –  European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said when addressing the members of the European Parliament.

“This House has called many times for a European Magnitsky Act – and I can announce that we will now come forward with a proposal”, – said von der Leyen.

Addressing the MEPs, the President of the European Commission spoke about the current situation in Belarus. She expressed support to the people of Belarus on behalf of the EU. ” I want to say it loud and clear: the European Union is on the side of the people of Belarus. The people of Belarus must be free to decide their own future for themselves. They are not pieces on someone else’s chess board” – she added.

The President of the European Commission says that the poisoning of the leader of the Russian opposition, Alexei Navalny, is no exception. “To those that advocate closer ties with Russia, I say that the poisoning of Alexei Navalny with an advanced chemical agent is not a one off. We have seen the pattern in Georgia and Ukraine, Syria and Salisbury – and in election meddling around the world. This pattern is not changing – and no pipeline will change that” – von der Leyen said.