The executive branch’s announcement was revealed as a response to a proposed Senate bill. The bill, known as the ‘Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act,’ names the officials involved in the Magnitsky case. Proposed by U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, co-chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Republican Senator John McCain, the bill would freeze assets as well as visas and has infuriated the Russian government. The Russian response could threaten cooperation with Russia on key U.S. foreign policy issues.
“Senior Russian government officials have warned us that they will respond asymmetrically if this legislation passes,” a missive from the Obama administration said.
“Their argument is that we cannot expect them to be our partner in supporting sanctions against countries like Iran, North Korea, and Libya, and sanction them at the same time. Russian officials have said that other areas of bilateral cooperation, including on transit to Afghanistan, could be jeopardized if this legislation passes.”
U.S. Officials, led by Cardin, have been asking President Obama to crack down on corruption in Russia since Magnitsky’s death in November 2009 at the age of 37. The proposed legislation takes stronger measures against those believed responsible for Magnitsky’s arrest. Obama’s administration argues that the legislation is no longer necessary because restrictions are now in place.
After accusing a number of high profile officials from the Russian Interior Ministry with conspiring with the police and the mafia to steal $230 million, Magnitsky himself was accused of tax fraud and imprisoned in November 2008. He was held for 11 months and denied both a trial and medical treatment. He died almost one year after his arrest.
Magnitsky’s supporters and family say he died because he did not receive adequate medical treatment.
Until two months ago, the Russian government had not acted to investigate Magnitsky’s death. In May, President Dmitry Medvedev ordered an independent investigation led by the Kremlin’s human rights council. Last month, two low-level prison officials were accused of negligence.
The U.S. is the first country to impose sanctions for officials linked to the case. Canada, the Netherlands, and the European Parliament have indicated that they will also move to ban visas for the Russian officials involved in the case.
In apparent retaliation, Russian State Duma officials last month announced proposed legislation that would restrict entry, freeze assets and ban business deals for foreigners accused of violating Russian citizens’ rights.
