Thursday, July 28, 2011

U.S. - Russian Relations Threatened By The Death Of Russian Lawyer Sergei Magnitsky

Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky in December 2006. Radio Free Europe

Russia Threatens To Wreck The Reset -- The Cable/Foreign Policy

Russia has threatened the Obama administration that it will end cooperation on Iran and prevent the transfer of material to Afghanistan if Congress passes a law criticizing Russian human rights practices.

The White House argues that the U.S.-Russian "reset" of relations has had three positive results: the New START nuclear reductions treaty, Moscow's cooperation in sanctioning Iran, and approval (for a price) for U.S. military goods to transit Russian territory on the way to Afghanistan. But Russia is now using two of those three points as leverage to pressure the administration to get Congress not to pass a bill that would ban visas for Russian officials implicated in human rights crimes.

Read more ....

More News On The Death Of Sergei Magnitsky And It's Impact On U.S. - Russian Relations

Russia says will respond to U.S. steps on Sergei Magnitsky -- Reuters
Russia Gives U.S. Warning on Magnitsky Case -- Moscow Times
Russia responds sharply to U.S. visa blacklist -- Washington Post
Russia Responds To U.S. Sanctions Over Magnitsky Case -- Voice of America

US bans Russian officials linked to Magnitsky death: report
-- Global Post
US Slaps Travel Ban on Russians Suspected in Magnitsky Death -- Voice of America
U.S. Imposes Visa Bans On Russian Officials Connected To Magnitsky Death -- Radio Free Europe
Russians Linked to Jail Death Are Barred From U.S. -- New York Times
US 'slaps travel ban on Russian officials implicated in Sergei Magnitsky death' -- The Telegraph
US visa blacklist after Russian lawyer's death: report -- AFP

My Comment: His death has poisoned international investor confidence in Russia's legal and business system. Even in my case, my background is Russian and I have zero interest to invest in any business opportunity in Russia ... and this was before the death of Magnitsky.

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