Russian activists demonstrate to support expansion of Magnitsky list

A group of Russian civil rights activists demonstrated in front of the US and UK embassies in Moscow in support of the 'the Magnitsky list' - which imposes targeted visa sanctions and asset freezes on Russian officials involved in corruption and gross human rights abuse on 1 August. The sanctions became law last year in the US with the passage of the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act  by an overwhelming bi-partisan majority in Congress.

The Russian activists urged the US government to expand the Magnitsky list. One of the posters at the demonstration called for sanctions to be imposed on Moscow district court judge Igor Alisov, who presided over the first posthumous trial in the history of Russia. The trial concluded last month with Sergei Magnitsky being found "guilty", in spite of the fact that he has been dead for more than three and a half years.

The civil rights activists in Moscow said they came to the embassies to show support and gratitude for actions in the US and UK to adopt sanctions on Sergei Magnitsky's killers.

This week's picket is the third in a series of similar actions. The first Magnitsky list picket took place exactly a year ago. Last year, the Moscow authorities banned a request for a Magnitsky list demonstration on the grounds that it would unduly pressure the courts.

Share this article: