The US Treasury, in accordance with the Magnitsky Act, imposed personal sanctions on six Russian citizens in connection with the arrest of journalist and opponent Vladimir Kara-Murza*. On this subject reported in a US press release.
The blacklist includes Russia’s Deputy Justice Minister Oleg Sviridenko, Moscow Basmanny District Court Judge Elena Lenskaya, Khamovniki Metropolitan Court Judge Diana Mishchenko, Moscow City Court Judge Ilya Kozlov, Investigator for Cases particularly important Russian Investigative Committee Andrey Zadachin and director of the ANO “Center for the Promotion of Humanitarian Expertise” Independent Expert”. According to Washington, these people are involved in the violation of human rights. The Sanctions include visa restrictions on entry to the United States and freezing of financial assets in US banks.
The Magnitsky Act was passed in the United States in 2012. It is named after Firestone Duncan’s lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, who died in a Moscow prison for helping international financier William Browder evade taxes.
The document provides for the use of unilateral sanctions against Russian officials who, from Washington’s point of view, are guilty of human rights violations in their homeland. The Magnitsky Global Human Rights Act, which provides for the possibility of extending the Magnitsky Act to other countries, not just Russia, was passed in the United States in 2016.
Vladimir Kara-Murza* has been in a pre-trial detention center in Moscow since April 2022, when he was taken into custody for spreading “fake news” about the Russian military based on political hatred (clause “ d”, part 2, article 207.3 of the Penal Code). Then a criminal case was opened against him under the article on the activities of an “undesirable organization” (part 1 of article 284.1 of the Criminal Code), and then also under the article on high treason (article 275 of the Penal Code).
According to the investigators, Kara-Murza* would have “for many years” provided organizations in NATO member countries with “assistance directed against the security of Russia”. The politician’s lawyer, Vadim Prokhorov, said the treason case against Kara-Murza* was opened “for criticizing the Russian authorities at public events in Lisbon, Helsinki and Washington”, which ” posed no threat to the country.” and “it was a public and open criticism”.
At the beginning of February, the Basmanny court in Moscow extended duration of Kara-Murza*’s arrest until March 12. Lawyer for journalist Vadim Prokhorov informed that on March 6, the Moscow City Court will hold a preliminary hearing on the criminal case against the opponent, it will be held behind closed doors.
*recognized as a foreign agent in Russia
