Stop the Untouchables. Justice for Sergei Magnitsky.

Who Is Magnitsky?

Washington Council on Foreign Relations

Yesterday was a big day in terms of efforts to establish permanent normal trade relations with Russia: Senators Baucus, Thune, Kerry and McCain introduce legislation to make this goal a reality. And with the House Ways and Means Committee hearing coming up (next Wednesday, June 20), it’s beginning to feel like there’s momentum to ensure that – when Russia joins the WTO – U.S. businesses will have the same access to the Russia market as everyone else.

But one name that you’re going to hear a lot before the (hopefully) successful conclusion of this policy discussion is “Magnitsky.” As in “Magnitsky Act will be linked with Russian trade bill in Senate” (for example). And, since most of you aren’t following U.S.-Russia policy as closely as you’re following the daily Mariners box score (although I’m not sure which one I prefer), you know that you can always rely on your faithful State of Trade Blog for the easy answer.

Senate Bill 1039 is entitled the “Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act,” which is intended to ban U.S. visas to Russian officials engaged in “gross human rights violation.” The legislation is named for the anti-corruption lawyer who died in a Russian prison, after allegedly being tortured, two years ago. The Act would lay out specific provisions about who can be banned, for what reasons and the process for getting such a ban in place.