Iran Pledges to Begin Eliminating Some if it’s Uranium Stockpile on January 20

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran – According to the White House said Sunday that the Iranian government has pledged to begin eliminating some of its uranium stockpile on January 20, marking the official start of the six-month interim deal with Iran that was announced in November of last year. That date was also confirmed by Iranian State media.

Iran Set to begin destroying some of its uranium stockpile on January 20. (Photo Courtesy of CNN International)

United States Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement that “As of that day, for the first time in almost a decade, Iran’s nuclear program will not be able to advance, and parts of it will be rolled back, while we start negotiating a comprehensive agreement to address the international community’s concerns about Iran’s program.”

As part of the agreement Iran has agreed to start eliminating its stockpile of higher levels of enriched uranium, used in the production of nuclear weapons, and to dismantle some of the infrastructure that is used in the enrich higher-level uranium enrichment possible. Iran has also agreed not to construct new centrifuges. This will be done in exchange for the easing of some sanctions. The deal could result in the easing of sanctions totalling about $7 billion — $4.2 billion of which, US officials say.

“The $4.2 billion in restricted Iranian assets that Iran will gain access to as part of the agreement will be released in regular instalments throughout the six months,” John Kerry said. “The final instalment will not be available to Iran until the very last day.”

Shortly after the deal goes into effect Iran will likely enter into talks with world powers in February to negotiate the future of its nuclear program. the next round of talks is being led by European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, the actors involved in the talks will have to address the challenge of defining an accepted scope of Iranian nuclear activity that will adequately addressed the concerns of members of the international community that Iran’s nuclear ambitions could lead the state to develop an atomic weapon.

A diplomatic sources told Reuters that the next phase of diplomacy between Iran, the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany will include Ashton and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. The source said that while the talks will begin soon, they will not “happen in January, because of the Chinese New Year, but it is very, very, very likely in February.”

United States President Barack Obama said over the weekend that he has “no illusions” about how hard it will be to secure a comprehensive agreement with Iran.

On Monday the Obama Administration voiced concerns about reports that Iran and the Russian Federation will enter into an ‘oil-for-goods’ agreement  to exchange worth $1.5 billion a month. Under this agreement Russia receive up to 500,000 barrels or Iranian oil per day and in exchange Iran will receive Russian equipment and goods. The White House said this deal could potentially trigger U.S. sanctions.

For more information please see:

Al Jazeera – US Concerned About Iran-Russia Oil Deal – 14 January 2014

The Jerusalem Post – Iran Using Opening with West To Improve Its Relations Worldwide – 14 January 2014

CNN International – Iran to Start Scaling Back Nuclear Program January 20, White House Says – 13 January 2014

Reuters – World Powers, Iran Eye February Start To Nuclear Settlement Talks – 13 January 2014

In Spite of the Russian Interior Ministry’s Denial, They Continue the Posthumous Case Accusing Sergei Magnitsky

13 January 2014 – Today, the Russian Interior Ministry issued a “denial” of a new posthumous case against Sergei Magnitsky. However, documents obtained from the court indicate that the Interior Ministry is pursuing an active case (No 678540) in which it posthumously accuses Sergei Magnitsky of the $230 million theft that he had in fact uncovered.

The Demand by Prosecutor Grin to open the criminal case posthumously and accusing Mr Magnitsky of perpetrating the $230 million theft says:

“Based on results of investigation, V.G. Khlebnikov and V.A. Markelov were brought to justice, the persons who had entered into prior conspiracy with V.N. Kurochkin, S.M. Korobeinikov, O.G. Gasanov, and S.L.Magnitsky, by deceit during September through December 2007 have committed theft of 5,409,503,006 rubles, having organized an unlawful refund from the budget of Russia of the previously paid income tax.”

 

The Decree to open the criminal case No 678540 by the Interior Ministry says:

 

“Senior Investigator …O.V.Urzhumtsev, having considered the report and materials of checks…has determined: by verdict of the Tverskoi District Court of Moscow from 28 April 2009 and 10 March 2011 which came into effect, V.A. Markelov and V.G. Khlebnikov have been recognized guilty of entering into a prior conspiracy with V.N.Kurochkin, S.M. Korobeinikov, O.G.Gasanov and S.L. Magnitsky, to have organized by deceit the unlawful refund to taxpayers… of allegedly surplus paid income tax for 2006, have stolen funds from the budget of the Russian Federation and of Moscow city, the subject of federation, in the amount of 5,409,503,006.48 rubles.”

 

Numerous complaints from the Magnitsky family that case No 678540 is based on fabricated evidence have been rejected by Tverskoi District Court, Interior Ministry and Prosecutor’s Office.

The evidence about the existence of this case was originally kept secret by the Russian authorities from the Magnitsky family. For some time, the Russian Interior Ministry officials publicly defamed Sergei Magnitsky at press conferences airing these posthumous allegations. The complaint from the Magnitsky family about this posthumous slander addressed to the Head of the Russian Interior Ministry’s Investigative Department remained unanswered.

Subsequently, the Magnitsky family learned that Deputy General Prosecutor of Russia Victor Grin in fact ordered a new case to be opened naming Magnitsky posthumously as the perpetrator of the $230 million theft after his death. Posthumous accusations are in breach of the Russian legislation and the European human rights principles defended by the European Court of Human Rights.

Russian Interior Ministry officers in charge of the second case posthumously accusing Magnitsky of the $230 million theft have included Oleg Urzhumtsev, Ruslan Filippov and Pavel Tambovtsev.

“Attempts by the Interior Ministry to whitewash what has now turning into a practice of posthumous persecution of Sergei Magnitsky are flatly in contradiction to the documents in the case file,” said Hermitage Capital representative.

For further information, please see:

Law and Order in Russia

Tribesmen Kill Yemeni Soldiers

By Darrin Simmons
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SANA’A, Yemen-Reports have indicated that at least four Yemeni soldiers were killed by local tribesmen in an attack on the army commission assigned to guard oil installations.  The tribesmen warned the army to stop its operations in the area.

(photo courtesy of Al Jazeera)

One witnesses recalled that gunmen and troops traded fire after the attack, adding that the army reinforcements had arrived in the area.

Government troops and facilities in southeaster Hadramawt province have been targeted by armed tribesmen since as early as December.  Tensions arose between the army and tribesmen when a local tribal leader was killed at an army checkpoint upon refusal to hand over his weapons.

The death of tribal leader Bin Habrish has sparked protests and attacks on government facilities.  Most recently, several people were killed in  a brief seizure of the Yemeni oil ministry offices in Hadramawt.

Tribesmen have demanded that Habrish’s killers be handed over, as well as demanding withdrawal of the army from Hadramawt and creation of more jobs for the local people in the area.

The attack occurred one day after a tribal alliance formed in the area, warning that all operations should be suspended starting on this past Saturday.  The operations are run by Norwegian DNO International,  an oil and gas exploration company, which had no immediate comment.

On Saturday, members of the tribal alliance killed two soldiers and wounded one other in another attack on oil installations operated by Norwegian DNO in Hadramout.

Ever growing hostility in Yemen has due to their strategic position next to the major oil exporter Saudi Arabia and useful shipping lanes have caused international concern.  Mass protests and political turmoil since the forced resignation of long-serving President Ali Abdullah Saleh in 2011have worsened matters.  He was succed by deputy Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

Further, Yemen is one of the poorest countries in the Arab world experience.  Yemen relies on crude exports to finance up to 70 percent of its spending budget.  Yemen also faces increasing attacks by al-Qaida as sectarian tensions increase in the north and the occurrence of a secessionist movement in the south.

Hadramawt was once part of the formerly independent South Yemen, which was unified with the north in 1990.  A secession attempt four years later caused a brief but bloody civil war that ended with northern forces taking over the south.

For more information, please see the following: 

Al Jazeera-Tribesmen kill soldiers in southern Yemen-12 January 2014

Global Post-Yemen tribes kill 4 soldiers in fresh anti-army attack-12 January 2014

Gulf News-Yemen tribesmen kill soldiers in oil field attack-12 January 2014

Voice of America-Yemen Tribes Kill 2 Soldiers, Tell Norway DNO to End Oil Work-12 January 2014

Protesters in Northern Spain Support Transfer of Imprisoned Members of Group Labeled Terrorist by EU, U.S.

by Tony Iozzo
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

BILBAO, Spain – Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in northern Spain on Saturday to protest the imprisonment of members of a separatist group known as “ETA.”

Thousands took to the streets on Saturday in northern Spain. (Photo courtesy of Al Jazeera)

Tens of thousands of protesters formed a demonstration in the city of Bilbao, in Spain’s Basque region, after a judge had banned an initial demonstration to demand concessions for the ETA prisoners, such as being imprisoned in facilities closer to their families.

Spain’s Basque region has seen an ongoing standoff between authorities and secessionists in the area. ETA has been campaigning for an independent Basque homeland in northern Spain and southwestern France for over 40 years. The organization, which has been labeled a terrorist organization by the European Union and the United States, has been blamed for 829 murders.

The organization has been depleted in recent years due to the arrests and imprisonment of its leadership in both Spain and France. Roughly 520 members have been imprisoned, and only an estimated few dozen active fighters are on the run. The ETA pledge to end armed activity back in 2011, but Spain and France remain opposed to negotiating with the organization due to its past.

On Friday, a judge of the highest criminal court in Madrid issued a ruling against a planned demonstration to explicitly support the imprisoned ETA members, reasoning that the protest was organized by a banned terrorist group. Both Basque nationalist and separatist parties called for a new “rights march” for Saturday. They had originally called for a silent demonstration, but shouts and cries were audible when family members of the prisoners marched. Shouts such as “Basque prisoners home!” could be heard.

The conservative Basque National Party, which governs Spain’s northern region, and a left-wing pro-independence party combined forces for Saturday’s march. Between them they accounted for more than half of the votes in the last regional elections, as pro-independence Basques set their sights on a political solution.

“Parties and unions that represent the political majority of this land decided they had to call this demonstration to defend the right to freedom of expression,” Pernando Barrena, spokesman for the left-wing party, stated.

The spokesman for the Basque National Party, Josu Erkoreka, stated that the original ban on the first planned demonstration was “incomprehensible to the Basque people.”

On Saturday, an additional judge ruled that the new gathering called by the parties was not illegal.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Thousands March in Bilbao in Support of ETA – 12 January 2014

Fox News – Large March in North Spain Calls for ETA Prisoners to be Allowed to Serve Jail Terms Near Home – 12 January 2014

The Washington Post – March in North Spain Backs Return of ETA Prisoners – 12 January 2014

BBC News – Huge March in Spain After Ban on ETA Prisoner Rally – 11 January 2014