US Lawmakers Propose to Expand Magnitsky Act Globally

WASHINGTON, January 29 (Sputnik) – US Senators John McCain and Ben Cardin have introduced a legislation expanding the Russia-specific sanctions in the Magnitsky Act to apply globally, a statement released on Cardin's website said.

According to the statement, published Wednesday, the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act "would ensure human rights abusers and corrupt officials are denied entry into the United States and barred from using our financial institutions".

“The legislation would expand the Russia-specific sanctions in the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act to apply globally, and would make significant acts of corruption a sanctionable offense,” the statement issued on Wednesday read.

The proposed Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act authorizes the President to impose sanctions on any foreign national the President determines to be responsible for significant corruption, extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.

The legislation “would ensure human rights abusers and corrupt officials are denied entry into the United States and barred from using America’s financial institutions,” the statement explained.

Cosponsors of the bill include Senators Dick Durbin, Roger Wicker, Jeanne Shaheen, Marco Rubio, Ed Markey, Mark Kirk, and Richard Blumenthal.

In December 2012, the US Senate passed the Magnitsky Act, which allowed Washington to deny visas and freeze the assets of Russian officials, allegedly involved in the death of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky. There are currently 34 names on the list.

Magnitsky died in a pre-trial detention center after almost a year after he was accused of conspiracy and abatement in serious company tax evasion by a group of individuals.

Russia has responded to the Magnitsky Act by issuing its own blacklist, which includes US officials linked to human rights violations at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.