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State Duma to hold first reading on response to Magnitsky act Fri

The bill envisages a ban on entry into Russia for those US citizens who have committed crimes against Russian citizens staying abroad or accomplices in such crimes

MOSCOW, December 14 (Itar-Tass) —— Russia’s State Duma on Friday will hold the first reading of a bill it may vote for in response to the US Congress’s Magnitsky Act. The lower house of the Russian parliament will consider a draft law on measures against persons involved in violations of rights of Russian citizens. The bill was proposed by State Duma speaker Sergei Naryshkin and the leaders of all four State Duma factions.

The bill envisages a ban on entry into Russia for those US citizens who have committed crimes against Russian citizens staying abroad or accomplices in such crimes, having official powers, whose actions or inactivity helped persons responsible for crimes against Russians escape responsibility, involved in the kidnapping or illegal imprisonment of Russian citizens, who passed groundless or unjust sentences on Russian citizens or carry out groundless legal persecution of Russian citizens.

All US citizens who have been prohibited from entering Russia will also face the arrest of their financial assets in Russia and an embargo on all real estate transactions, as well as the suspension of subordinate legal entities and powers on the boards of directors and other management bodies registered in Russia.

The list of US citizens prohibited from entering Russia will be kept and amended by the federal body of executive power in charge of foreign affairs (the Russian Foreign Ministry). The Foreign Minister will report progress in the implementation of the law to both houses of the Federal Assembly at least once a year.

After approval the law will take effect as of January 1, 2013.

Russia’s retaliatory measures against the adoption of the Magnitsky Act in the United States must be adequate but not excessive, President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with the Council of Legislators. “Of course, we must react properly. The Foreign Ministry said at once that there will be a response. That the State Duma has undertaken the initiative looks absolutely right to me.”

State Duma member Sergei Naryshkin believes the lower house of parliament will vote for a response to the Magnitsky Act by December 21. “I am certain that we shall adopt the law by the end of the autumn session,” he said.

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