Russian pundit says Magnitskiy list not to affect Russian-US ties

File Photo of U.S. Capitol Dome
Memorial Flowers and Photo of Sergei Magnitsky

file photos

(Interfax – Moscow, 5 November) Russia will not be able to prevent the adoption of the so called Magnitskiy list either in the USA or in Europe, deputy head of the USA and Canada Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences Viktor Kremenyuk said.

“The Magnitskiy list will certainly be adopted (in the USA – Interfax) and Europe will also take measures, because these countries want to defend their interests. And they are interested in not allowing corrupt capital, our corrupt officials to keep money in their banks, buy property there and in general to feel at home (in the West – Interfax),” Kremenyuk told Interfax.

According to the pundit, “one can understand a fierce indignation of our rich people or those who made their fortunes through corruption that there will now be restrictions against them”. “They will face restrictions, there is no doubt about it!”, he said.

Kremenyuk suggested the West would continue to criticize Russia over human rights.

“There has always been, there is and there will be criticism, because in terms of human rights Russia is unfortunately doing a lot of things in the wrong way,” the scientist said.

He puts it down to the “new legislation, which pushes protesting and opposition-minded people into ‘camps of enemies’, as well as many other things which the authorities are doing without thinking about their image, their prestige and how other countries will regard this”.

Meanwhile, he argues the adoption of the Magnitskiy list will not affect Russian-US relations in any way. “I think indifference will simply grow,” he said.

Kremenyuk suggests Russia will see its position in Western countries weakening in the near future. (Passage omitted to end: background)

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