Mike Hancock News
Statement from Mike Hancock, MP about the appeal against the revocation of her work permit by Ekateriana Zatuliveter
My former Parliamentary Assistant, Ms Ekateriana Zatuliveter is appealing the decision of the Home Office to revoke her work visa. It is not appropriate for me to provide a running commentary on on-going legal proceedings but I am clarifying some points in this statement.
Ms Zatuliveter was an intern for me in 2006 and started working for me full time in 2008. On both occasions she was vetted by the House of Commons authorities, passed that vetting and was given a House of Commons pass. She had a valid work visa granted and renewed by the Home Office which was not opposed by the security services.
At no time, did I pass on to Ms Zatuliveter any information that was not in the public domain or any classified information.
I have not been asked by the security services for a formal statement or been called as a witness by either side in the appeal.
I was first approached by the security services in respect of Ms Zatuliveter some eight months prior to them stopping her at Gatwick in August 2010. At that time they asked for my permission to approach her to see if she will be prepared to help the security services and asked if I had any objections. I said I most certainly did not have any objections and I understand Ms Zatuliveter willingly co-operated with the security services at that time but subsequently, I understand, had no further contact with them.
I heard nothing more until she was subsequently questioned when returning from holiday abroad in August 2010. And I have not spoken to Ms Zatuliveter since the beginning of December 2010.
I asked the security services on several occasions whether I should end Ms Zatuliveter's employment with me. The security services re-assured me it was not necessary to do that and I said that she was intending to leave any way and they said that she could just move onto another job. At no time did the security services request of me in autumn 2010 that Ms Zatuliveter should cease to be an employee of mine in the House of Commons. If they had asked me to end her employment, I would have acted immediately.
As I say it is not appropriate for me to make any further comments at this time on any aspect of the hearing including anyone mentioned in fairness to the current legal proceedings and I hope the media will respect that.
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