Interfax: Moscow urges Washington not to extend Magnitsky List

(Interfax – MOSCOW, July 12, 2013) The Russian Foreign Ministry has urged Washington to stow plans for an extended Magnitsky List and warned it would react sternly, given the rights abuses the United States is committing globally.

“We urged the U.S. administration to demonstrate wisdom and not to take steps that would spoil the atmosphere of bilateral relations,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said in a commentary in connection with statements made by U.S Department of State officials.

Otherwise “we will be compelled to respond harshly again and again,” he said.

“The more so since we have more than enough candidates to be placed on our ‘Guantanamo List,’ especially after high-profile revelations were made about massive human rights abuses by U.S. special services with Congress’s approval, including the surveillance of telephone conversations and correspondence, involving attempted abuses of Russian citizens’ rights, as well,” Lukashevich said.

‘The war of black lists, unleashed by Washington, is a road to nowhere, which dooms Russian-American relations to senseless confrontation,” he said.