U.S. senate to vote on key Russian trade bill
The U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote later on December 6 on
legislation that would end Cold War-era restrictions on trade with
Russia and Moldova, but also impose sanctions on alleged human
rights violators in Russia, Radio Liberty reported.
Last month, the House of Representatives approved the legislation,
which grants "permanent normal trade relations" to Moscow. That
would allow U.S. companies to take advantage of the benefits from
Russia's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) this
August.
But the legislation also requires the United States to freeze
assets and deny visas to Russian officials implicated in the death
of anticorruption lawyer Sergei Magnitsky and in other perceived
gross violations of human rights.
Magnitsky died in torturous prison conditions in 2009 after
exposing a massive fraud scheme.
On the eve of the vote, senators debated the bill.
Many argued that passage of the Magnitsky Act would provide the
United States with a powerful tool to advance human rights in
Russia.
Senator Benjamin Cardin, who consponsored the bill, said its
passage would put the United States "on the right side of
history."
"It will deepen our relationship with the Russian people," Cardin
said. "We are starting a new chapter on human rights, one that we
can be proud of, where America, once again, is establishing a basic
principle that we will not tolerate those who violate
internationally recognized human rights standards. We will not let
them go without being held accountable, and we certainly will not
let them have the privileges of our country."
That message was echoed by Senator John McCain, who said the bill
would benefit Russia as well.
"There are still many people who look at the Magnitsky Act as
anti--Russia. I disagree. I believe it is pro-Russia. I believe it
is pro-Russia because this legislation is about the rule of law and
human rights and accountability, which are values that Russians
hold dear," McCain explained.
Russia has threatened retaliation if the provision gets final
approval.