Russia will respond to "Magnitsky law" if U.S. Congress passes it - Russian Foreign Ministry
MOSCOW. Oct 22 (Interfax) - Russia will not leave without attention the adoption in the U.S. of the so-called Magnitsky law, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said.
"The U.S. administration and the U.S. Congress have an opinion in favor of adoption of the anti-Russian 'Magnitsky law,' which envisions visa and financial sanctions on our authorities," Ryabkov said at a parliamentary hearing on the observance of human rights in the U.S. held in the State Duma on Monday.
"We cannot leave that without a due response," the diplomat said.
Magnitsky, a lawyer for the investment foundation Hermitage Capital, died in the Matrosskaya Tishina detention facility on November 16, 2009 at the age of 37. He was charged with tax evasion (a crime enshrined by Article 199 of the Russian Criminal Code). Magnitsky's colleagues said he was imprisoned after he had exposed corruptive schemes of certain Russian officials.
Magnitsky's death drew a broad public response. The Russian Interior Ministry has finalized the investigation into his case but the defense of the Magnitsky family said they would not study the case materials.
The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee unanimously approved the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act on June 26, 2012, introducing visa and financial sanctions on Russian officials suspected by the United States of violating human rights. The Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Magnitsky Act earlier.
The act has yet to be considered by the Senate Finance Committee and the joint meeting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. If the procedure is complete, the act, with which the congressmen want to replace the Jackson-Vanik Amendment, will be submitted to the U.S. President for signing.
