U.S. Levies Sanctions Against 12 Russians


The Treasury Department on Tuesday sanctioned 12 Russians under a U.S. law named after whistle-blowing Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who alleged organized criminals colluded with a Russian government official to claim a fraudulent $230million tax rebate.

This spurred sanctions against Russians human rights violators and a ban on the adoption of Russian children. Allegedly beaten and denied  treatment Magnitsky died in prison in 2009 of untreated pancreatitis. The Magnitsky law enacted in 2012 requires U.S. sanctions on individuals suspected of being responsible for or financially benefiting from Magnitsky’s detention, abuse or death, or were involved in the criminal conspiracy  he uncovered.

The law also requires sanctions against individuals responsible for human rights violations committed against individuals trying to defend human rights or expose illegal activity by Russian government officials.