Russian State Duma plans to consider the draft law targeting US citizens involved in Human Rights violations - the response to the so-called ‘Magnitsky Act’ approved by the US Senate last week.
The document, which was developed by all the Duma's fractions, could be approved at the first reading as early as Tuesday. Some politicians are even assured the draft would pass the Lower House in three days.
The current version of the draft does not contain a list of particular names, but simply provides for sanctions against US citizens who had violated the rights of Russians, in particular adopted Russian children.
The so-called "Magnitsky Act" was approved by the US Senate last week. It targets a group of Russian officials in response to alleged complicity in the death of Sergey Magnitsky – an employee of a British investment fund who was under investigation over tax fraud. Those who are in the list will be denied entry to the United States and their US assets, if there are any, will be frozen.
Many Russian officials considered the Act as a "humiliation for Russia as a country and for each of its citizens” and promised "a harsh response".
Author: Julia Alieva