Magnitsky List won’t have serious effect on Russia-U.S. relations – Primakov

MOSCOW. Dec 10 (Interfax) – Former Russian Prime Minister, Academician Yevgeny Primakov thinks that the Magnitsky Act will not have a serious effect on Russia-U.S. relations.

“We can make a similar list, but I do not think things will go further and have a serious effect on our relations with the United States,” he said on Friday while answering questions of listeners to his lecture on liberalism in Russia at the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Central House of Scientists.

In his words, Moscow could make a list of U.S. citizens who had adopted Russian children but failed their commitments and persons involved in the Guantanamo situation.

“For instance, we can make a list of U.S. individuals who did not condemn abuse of our children adopted in the United States. There is also Guantanamo, a prison in Cuba where inmates are uncontrollably abused,” Primakov said. He said that Guantanamo was “America’s disgrace.”

The ex-premier added he did not think Russia would do that.

The U.S. Senate endorsed on Thursday the Magnitsky Act linked with the cancellation of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment. The document imposes visa and financial sanctions against Russian officials suspected by Washington of the involvement in the death of lawyer Magnitsky at a detention facility in Moscow and other violations of human rights.

The U.S. president shall submit to congressional committees within 120 days since the adoption of the act the unclassified lists of persons who, in his opinion, might be involved in the detention, torture and death of Sergei Magnitsky, tried to cover up the tragedy, had financial gains from it or took part in the conspiracy exposed by Magnitsky.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia would ban visits of U.S. human rights violators in response to the Magnitsky List.

The U.S. media said that the bill approved by the House of Representatives in early November would most probably be signed by the president before the end of this year. Some observers believe that may happen before the Christmas holiday season.

Hermitage Capital lawyer Magnitsky accused of tax evasion died at a Moscow detention facility on November 16, 2009. Doctors said he died of an acute heart failure.