Thank you, Chair.
Thank you both for attending today. Thank you, Mr. Kasparov for your courageous defence of democracy, the rule of law, and truth, and Mr. Cotler, it is always an honour to share a room with you.
Mr. Kasparov, this committee has heard abundant testimony in support of the Magnitsky Act as originally proposed and in its different forms, and now in support of the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act passed by the United States and the pending legislation in the U.K., but we've also heard opinions, shared by Canada's foreign affairs minister, that Canada doesn't need more sanctions and that dialogue is preferable.
At the same time, these voices suggested that Mr. Putin, for example, or other despots like him, would not change their ways because of sanctions. Earlier this week you said that the Magnitsky Act as it now exists in the United States, by cutting the freedom of Russia's kleptocrats, scares Mr. Putin. Did you mean that it does cause him uncertainty and fear?