Magnitsky Act is not targeted against Russia – Ambassador McFaul

Ambassador Michael McFaul file photo

MOSCOW/WASHINGTON. Dec 17 (Interfax) – The Magnitsky Act endorsed by the Congress and signed by U.S. President Barack Obama is not targeted against Russia, U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul posted in his blog.

He said the act did not stipulate any extraterritorial measures.

The act concerns the U.S. sovereignty and ability to bar persons involved in violations of human rights or corruption from U.S. territory or use of U.S. financial institutions for concealing illegal income.

The Obama Administration supports Congress’ wish to ensure respect for human rights in Russia, which is also the goal of the majority of Russians, McFaul said.

He recalled that Obama signed Bill H.R. 6156, which repealed the Jackson-Vanik Amendment and granted Russia the status of a normal trade partner, at the end of last week.

This law will be good for Russia and the United States because it will broaden bilateral trade, create quality jobs and promote mutual investments, which is important for economic growth in both countries, the ambassador stressed.

According to some estimates, Russia’s admission to the WTO and its issue with the normal trade partner status may prepare the ground for doubling U.S. exports to Russia within the next few years, McFaul said.

In addition, the bill highlights the case of Sergei Magnitsky, who tried to uncover corrupt officials but was unjustly imprisoned and died at the hands of the bureaucrats he wanted to expose.

Three years have passed and credible evidence of criminal actions by bureaucrats, which led to the death of Magnitsky, has been published but the authorities have not punished the culprits, McFaul said.

In turn, New York University Russian studies Professor Stephen Cohen compared the passage of the Magnitsky Act with the aggressive behavior of drunken hoodlums.

America thinks it has the right to dictate its will to Russia and teach civil freedoms, but it is more difficult to obtain permission to hold a street action in Chicago than in Moscow, the expert said in an interview with the Voice of America radio.

President Obama was trying hard to put the brakes on passage of the Magnitsky Act, so a number of legislators in both houses of Congress took the initiative and presented the White House with a fait accompli, Cohen said. In his words, the congressmen will now point to Russia’s bad guys and punish them.

That is pure insanity, reminiscent of the aggressive behavior of drunken hooligans; an act of revenge presented as justice, he said.

Cohen predicted the appearance of numerous lobbying groups and intrigues around the Magnitsky Act.

One of the most probable lobby groups is that of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the expert said. Boris Nemtsov has strong connections in the U.S. and he will certainly suggest a list to the Congress, he said.

These groups will be whispering to key legislators whom among the “bad Russians” must be punished, Cohen said.

Oligarch clans and elite groups will do the lobbying to settle a score and set up their rivals and take away property the rival has in the U.S., he presumed, adding that all they had to do was to find an influential listener and the position of rivals will be shattered.

All the anti-Russian forces in the United States and the Russian opposition will try to take advantage of the bill, he said.

It will become a stumbling stone in cooperation with Russia in combating international terrorism, drug trafficking and human trafficking, Cohen said. He said he predicted curtailment of cooperation with Russia in all the main spheres.

But, most importantly, the law may become a tragic complication in the achievement of a missile defense compromise, the expert stressed.

U.S. President Barack Obama signed the Magnitsky Act linked with the cancellation of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment at the White House’s Oval Office on Friday. Congressmen and senators who drafted the bill attended the signing ceremony.

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