Stop the Untouchables. Justice for Sergei Magnitsky.

Dem platform differs from GOP on trade with Russia

The Hill

The 2012 Democratic party platform released Monday differs from the GOP platform on trade with Russia.

Congress, as early as next week, could take up a bill to grant permanent normal trade relations(PNTR) to Russia.

The Democratic platform, like the GOP document, supports PNTR. But, unlike the GOP, Democrats are not demanding that PNTR be linked to a separate human-rights bill.

Last week, the GOP platform stated: “Russia should be granted Permanent Normal Trade Relations, but not without sanctions on Russian officials who have used the government to violate human rights.”

It said the GOP supports “enactment of the Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act as a condition of expanded trade relations with Russia.”

The Democratic platform makes no such mention of the Magnitsky bill, which would slap financial and visa sanctions on those accused of murdering Russian whistleblower Sergei Magnitsky.