EU Warns Russia of Sanctions Over Magnitsky Case

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European Union lawmakers on Thursday said they would move to freeze the bank accounts and assets of Russian officials behind the 2009 death in jail of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky if Moscow does not bring the perpetrators to justice.

Magnitsky, a lawyer for a London-based investment fund, spent almost a year in pre-trial detention on charges of tax evasion. He died in prison at the age of 37 after he was left untreated for an infected pancreas.

The lawmakers called the Magnitsky case an “outstanding example of the serious shortcomings” in Russia’s judicial system.

In a 318-63 vote in the European parliament, the lawmakers agreed that in the absence of positive moves by the Russian authorities, the EU also would consider a visa ban for those Russian officials involved in the case.

The EU resolution did not name the particular officials, but Magnitsky’s supporters have said some 60 officials are involved including members of Russia’s Interior Ministry.

VOA

The VOA is the Voice of America

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