Russia reacted to the Magnitsky Act with threats, as the bill was originally drafted to impose sanctions specifically on Russian officials involved in human right abuses. Izvestia reported on Friday that the Russian Parliament is discussing a long list of individuals who might be banned from Russia under a draft “Law On Measures against Individuals Involved in Violation of Russian Citizens' Rights Abroad.” This law was introduced in June 2011.
According to Izvestia, the list might include the U.S. Consul General in Vladivostok Douglas Kent, and two US Drug Enforcement Agency officers involved in an operation to capture the convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. Bout was sentenced to 25 years in prison in the US. Bout will appeal his sentence, his lawyer announced Friday. Russia did not succeed in efforts to extradite Bout from the US.
Russia’s bill does not officially contain any names of foreigners it might apply to, Izvestia reports.
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