6 Dec 2012 21:39

U.S. Senate approves Magnitsky Act linking it to Jackson-Vanik repeal

WASHINGTON. Dec 6 (Interfax) - The U.S. Senate, the upper congressional chamber, has approved the controversial Magnitsky Act, linking it to the repeal of Jackson-Vanik amendment.

The senators passed the version which had earlier been approved by the House of Representatives and which imposes visa and financial sanctions on Russian officials, who, Washington claims, are implicated in the death of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky and other human rights violations.

Earlier, the senators called for expanding the Magnitsky act to include other countries but then accepted the House's version. Thus, once approved, the bill will require no fine-tuning by a conciliatory commission and will go directly to the president.