OFAC Slow to Impose Russian Magnitsky Sanctions, Senators Say
Two Senate Foreign Relations Committee Democrats urged the Treasury Department to impose updated Russia Magnitsky Act sanctions, saying the administration failed to announce a new round of designations last year. In a Sept. 9 letter, Bob Menendez of New Jersey and Ben Cardin of Maryland said new sanctions are overdue. “[O]ur expectation has been that [the Office of Foreign Assets Control] announces annual designations by the close of each calendar year,” the senators said. “[W]e still do not have the 2019 round of Russia Magnitsky designations from the Administration. To this effect, we urge the release of a robust and credible list of designations immediately.”
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They said that although OFAC has designated “dozens” of people in Iran, China and Venezuela this year, it has issued “only” 17 Russian-related designations. The senators said there “continue to be a host of individuals for whom both the Sergei Magnitsky prong and Gross Violations of Human Rights prong of this Act would apply.” Magnitsky, a tax lawyer and adviser, was the target of human rights abuses after exposing a tax evasion scandal connected to the Russian state and his subsequent arrest. He died in police custody in Russia.
“It is critical that the Treasury Department dedicate the necessary resources to make the designations required” by the act, the senators said. “Any further delay of the 2019 round of designations is unacceptable under the law and hinders the United States’ ability to hold to account those who have committed atrocious acts within Russia.” Treasury didn't comment.