WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Bezan noted that the bill, dubbed "Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law)," would amend the existing Special Economic Measures Act, which details sanctions on foreign violators of human rights.
"I want to make sure that all violators of human rights are held accountable for their actions, and the Sergei Magnitsky Law does just that," Bezan stated. "It is important for those that are responsible for the torture and death of Sergei Magnitsky and other human rights violations be held accountable."
Sergei Magnitsky, a legal consultant for the London-based Hermitage Capital Management investment fund, was detained in 2008 on suspicion of involvement in a tax evasion scheme.
Less than a year later, Magnitsky died of heart failure while in custody. An official investigation closed the criminal case into the death of Magnitsky, citing lack of criminal evidence.
The US Department of the Treasury introduced the so-called Magnitsky Act, which allows the United States to impose sanctions on Russian officials believed to be responsible for Magnitsky's death in pre-trial detention.
Russia responded to the Magnitsky Act by issuing a travel ban for a number of US officials linked to human rights violations. Some of the officials have been involved in the construction and maintenance of the Guantanamo Bay detention center.
