State Duma toughens "anti-Magnitsky law"
MOSCOW. Dec 19 (Interfax) - The State Duma on Wednesday backed tough amendments to the draft "anti-Magnitsky law," which has been passed in the second reading.
The parliamentarians voted for a ban on adoptions of Russian children by U.S. citizens and the operation on the territory of Russia of organizations selecting children for adoption by U.S. citizens.
Simultaneously, a decision has been made "to terminate on behalf of Russia the agreement between Russia and the U.S. on cooperation in the sphere of adoptions of children signed in Washington on July 13, 2011."
The State Duma has also backed an amendment suspending the operations by "political NGOs" that receive money or property from U.S. citizens free of charge or carry out on the territory of Russia "project, programs, or carry out other activities posing a threat to Russia's interests." The document provides that the property of such NGOs is seized under a court ruling.
The State Duma also voted for the amendment banning Russian citizens who have U.S. citizenship from being members or heads of commercial organizations engaged in political activities and its structures. This ban also applies to divisions of international and foreign NGOs. Its violation leads to the seizure of funding and property under a court ruling.
The State Duma has passed in the second reading an amendment envisioning visa and financial sanctions on citizens who have violated the rights of Russian citizens in the U.S. or in other countries, which were earlier stated in the "anti-Magnitsky law."