{{short description|Sanctions against foreign individuals}} thumb|350px|Countries that have passed Magnitsky legislation {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}} '''Magnitsky legislation''' refers to laws providing for governmental sanctions against foreign individuals who have committed human rights abuses or been involved in significant corruption. They originated with the United States which passed the first Magnitsky legislation in 2012, following the torture and death of Sergei Magnitsky in Russia in 2009. Since then, a number of countries have passed similar legislation such as Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Union.
==Background== {{Main|Sergei Magnitsky|Magnitsky Act}} In 2008, Sergei Magnitsky was a tax accountant who accused Russian tax officials and law enforcement of stealing $230 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=230000000|start_year=2008}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) in tax rebates from Hermitage Capital.<ref name="BBC-1">{{Cite news|date=11 July 2013 |title=Q&A: The Magnitsky affair |newspaper=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-20626960 }}</ref> He, in turn, was arrested and jailed under the accusation of aiding tax evasion.<ref name="autopsy">{{Cite news|last=Aldrick |first=Philip |date=19 November 2009 |title=Russia refuses autopsy for anti-corruption lawyer |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/6608505/Russia-refuses-autopsy-for-anti-corruption-lawyer.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091122214756/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/6608505/Russia-refuses-autopsy-for-anti-corruption-lawyer.html |archive-date=22 November 2009 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref> Allegedly beaten by police,<ref name="BBC-1" /> Magnitsky died in Matrosskaya Tishina detention facility in November 2009<ref>Kathy Lally (20 January 2011). "UN-appointed Human Rights Experts to Probe Death of Russian Lawyer Magnitsky". The Washington Post.</ref>. In 2012, the United States Congress passed the ''Magnitsky Act'', which imposed sanctions on the officials involved, following extensive lobbying by Magnitsky's former employer Bill Browder.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Palmer |first=Doug |agency=Reuters |date=14 December 2012 |title=Obama signs trade, human rights bill that angers Moscow |newspaper=The Daily Star |location=Lebanon |url=https://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/International/2012/Dec-14/198547-obama-signs-russia-rights-law-despite-putin-fury.ashx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214210505/https://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/International/2012/Dec-14/198547-obama-signs-russia-rights-law-despite-putin-fury.ashx |archive-date=14 December 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Magnitsky legislation by country== Following the United States, Magnitsky legislation has been enacted in a number of territories, including the United Kingdom, Estonia, Canada, Lithuania, Latvia, Gibraltar, Jersey, and Kosovo.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Ochab |first=Ewelina U. |date=17 May 2020 |title=On Targeted Sanctions To Address Attacks Against Journalists And Media Freedom Violations |magazine=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ewelinaochab/2020/03/17/on-targeted-sanctions-to-address-attacks-against-journalists-and-media-freedom-violations/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317160819/https://www.forbes.com/sites/ewelinaochab/2020/03/17/on-targeted-sanctions-to-address-attacks-against-journalists-and-media-freedom-violations/ |archive-date=17 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>
===United States=== {{Main|Magnitsky Act}} The original ''Magnitsky Act'' of 2012 was expanded in 2016 into a more general law authorizing the US government to sanction those found to be human rights offenders or those involved in significant corruption, to freeze their assets, and to ban them from entering the US.<ref>The Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act {{Cite web|date=13 September 2017|title=The US Global Magnitsky Act: Questions and Answers|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/09/13/us-global-magnitsky-act|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928171158/https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/09/13/us-global-magnitsky-act|archive-date=28 September 2017|publisher=Human Rights Watch}}</ref>
===Canada=== {{Infobox legislation | short_title = Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law) | legislature = | image = Coat of Arms of Canada.svg | long_title = An Act to provide for the taking of restrictive measures in respect of foreign nationals responsible for gross violations of internationally recognized human rights and to make related amendments to the Special Economic Measures Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act | citation = [https://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/J-2.3/page-1.html S.C. 2017, c. 21] | enacted_by = | date_enacted = | assented_by = Governor-General Julie Payette | date_assented = 18 October 2017 | date_commenced = | bill = | bill_citation = [https://www.parl.ca/LEGISInfo/BillDetails.aspx?billId=8232682&Language=E Bill S-226] | bill_date = | introduced_by = Sen. Raynell Andreychuk | 1st_reading = 4 May 2016 | 2nd_reading = 17 November 2016 | 3rd_reading = 11 April 2017 | committee_report = [https://sencanada.ca/en/committees/report/37912/42-1 Eighth Report of the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade] | 1st_reading2 = 13 April 2017 | 2nd_reading2 = 13 June 2017 | 3rd_reading2 = 4 October 2017 | summary = | keywords = | status = current }} {{Canadian citizenship}} In October 2017, Canada passed its own Magnitsky legislation known as the '''''Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act''''',<ref>{{Cite web|last=Zaman |first=Kashif |date=9 November 2017 |title=Canada enacts Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act - Implications for compliance with Canadian anti-money laundering requirements |publisher=sler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP |url=https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401165950/https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=df06be65-f160-4f8d-a957-6159c5b0ac4d |archive-date=1 April 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0">"[https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/international_relations-relations_internationales/sanctions/victims_corrupt-victimes_corrompus.aspx?lang=eng Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act]." ''Canada and the World''. Ottawa: Government of Canada. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2020.</ref> which the Parliament of Canada passed through a motion in March 2015.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Clark|first1=Campbell|date=25 March 2015|title=All parties signal support for Magnitsky law to sanction Russian officials|work=The Globe and Mail|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/all-parties-signal-support-for-magnitsky-law-to-sanction-russian-officials/article23617841/|url-status=live|accessdate=11 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225141127/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/all-parties-signal-support-for-magnitsky-law-to-sanction-russian-officials/article23617841/|archive-date=25 February 2019}}</ref> The Act enables targeted measures against foreign nationals who, according to the Governor in Council (GIC), are, among others, "responsible for or complicit in gross violations of human rights; or are public officials or an associate of such an official, who are responsible for or complicit in acts of significant corruption."<ref name=":0" />
The regulations pursuant to the Act prohibit individuals and entities in Canada, as well as Canadians outside Canada, from, among others:
* "Dealing, directly or indirectly, in any property, wherever situated, of the listed foreign national;" * "Entering into or facilitating, directly or indirectly, any financial transaction related to a dealing described above;" * "Providing or acquiring financial or other related services to, for the benefit of, or on the direction or order of the listed foreign national;" and * "Making available any property, wherever situated, to the listed foreign national or to a person acting on behalf of the listed foreign national."
Canada's sanctions under this Act are enforced by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canada Border Services Agency, who also enforce related legislations such as the ''United Nations Act'' and the ''Special Economic Measures Act''.<ref name="Canadian sanctions legislation">"[https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/international_relations-relations_internationales/sanctions/legislation-lois.aspx?lang=eng Canadian sanctions legislation]." ''Canada and the World''. Ottawa: Government of Canada. 18 September 2020.</ref>
The ''Immigration and Refugee Protection Act'' (IRPA) provides the legislative authority for the Canadian government to deny entries to foreign nationals who are inadmissible to Canada pursuant to sanctions under the Act<ref name="Canadian sanctions legislation"/>
Russian president Vladimir Putin accused Canada of "political games" over the new Magnitsky law.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Blanchfield|first=Mike|date=20 October 2017|title=Vladimir Putin accuses Canada of 'political games' over Magnitsky law|newspaper=Global News|agency=The Canadian Press|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/3816237/vladimir-putin-canada-magnitsky-law/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020224742/https://globalnews.ca/news/3816237/vladimir-putin-canada-magnitsky-law/|archive-date=20 October 2017}}</ref> As such, the Act is perceived as damaging relations with Russia, especially with earlier warnings from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the law would be a "blatantly unfriendly step."<ref>{{Cite news|date=19 October 2017|title=Canada Passes Version Of Magnitsky Act, Raising Moscow's Ire|newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/canada-passes-magnistky-act-russia-sanctions/28804814.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019234243/https://www.rferl.org/a/canada-passes-magnistky-act-russia-sanctions/28804814.html|archive-date=19 October 2017}}</ref><ref name="Sevunts">{{Cite news|last=Sevunts |first=Levon |date=18 May 2017 |title=Russia warns Canada over 'blatantly unfriendly' Magnitsky Act |newspaper=CBC News |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/russia-warns-canada-magnitsky-1.4122758 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602054216/http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/russia-warns-canada-magnitsky-1.4122758 |archive-date=2 June 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=As Canada's Magnitsky bill nears final vote, Russia threatens retaliation |newspaper=CBC News |agency=Thomson Reuters |date=4 October 2017 |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-russia-magnitsky-bill-1.4321562 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025022708/http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-russia-magnitsky-bill-1.4321562 |archive-date=25 October 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Russia had already placed Canada's former Foreign Minister, Chrystia Freeland, and 12 other Canadian politicians and activists on a Kremlin 'blacklist', barring them entry to "Russia because of their criticism of Russian actions in Ukraine and its annexation of Crimea," under the equivalent Russian law.<ref name="Sevunts" />
Along with 30 Russian individuals, Canada's government subsequently targeted sanctions against 19 Venezuelan officials (including President Nicolás Maduro)<ref name="canada.ca">Global Affairs Canada. 6 November 2017. "[https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2017/11/case_2.html Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials - Case 2]." Government of Canada.</ref> and 3 South Sudanese officials.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Russia, South Sudan and Venezuela are Canada's 1st targets using sanctions under Magnitsky Act |newspaper=CBC News|date=3 November 2017 |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/russia-south-sudan-venezuela-magnitsky-sanctions-1.4386477 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171103213815/http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/russia-south-sudan-venezuela-magnitsky-sanctions-1.4386477 |archive-date=3 November 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 29 November 2018, Canada amended the Regulations to include 17 foreign nationals from Saudi Arabia, who, in the opinion of the GIC, are responsible for or complicit in blatant violations of internationally recognized human rights, particularly the torture and extrajudicial killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.<ref name=":0" /> On 16 February 2018, Canada announced its sanctioning of Major-General Maung Maung Soe for being a "key military official" in Myanmar's human-rights violations against the Rohingya and the resulting flight of 688,000 Rohingya from their country.<ref name=":1">Global Affairs Canada. 16 February 2018. "[https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2018/02/canada_imposes_targetedsanctionsinresponsetohumanrightsviolation.html Canada imposes targeted sanctions in response to human rights violations in Myanmar]." Government of Canada.</ref>
Sanctioned individuals include:
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}} *30 Russian officials *19 Venezuelan officials, including<ref name="canada.ca"/> **President Nicolás Maduro Moros **Tareck El Aissami **Gustavo Enrique González López **Adán Chávez Frías **Rafael Darío Ramírez Carreño **Luis Alfredo Motta Domínguez **Nelson José Merentes Díaz **Rodolfo Clemente Marco Torres **Francisco José Rangel Gómez *17 Saudi nationals, including<ref>Global Affairs Canada. 29 November 2018. "[https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2018/11/jamal-khashoggi-case.html Jamal Khashoggi case]." Government of Canada.</ref> **Saud Al-Qahtani **Salah Mohammed Tubaigy *3 Sudanese officials<ref>Global Affairs Canada. 6 November 2017. "[https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2017/11/case_1.html Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials - Case 1]." Government of Canada.</ref> **Paul Malong Awan **Malek Reuben Riak Rengu **Michael Makuei Lueth *1 Burmese official<ref name=":1" /> **Maung Maung Soe{{Div col end}}
On 21 March 2021, the Government of Canada promulgated the "Special Economic Measures (People’s Republic of China) Regulations"<ref>{{cite act |type= Regulations|index= SOR/2021-49|date= 21 March 2021 |legislature= Administrator of the Government of Canada in Council |title= Special Economic Measures (People's Republic of China) Regulations |url= https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2021-49/page-1.html#fn_81000-2-4318_hq_27784|language= English}}</ref> under a related legislation, the ''Special Economic Measures Act'',<ref>{{cite act |type= Legislation|index= S.C. 1992, c. 17|date= 4 June 1992 |legislature= Senate and House of Commons of Canada |title= Special Economic Measures Act |url= https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/S-14.5/page-1.html#h-434065|language= English}}</ref> on the basis that "gross and systematic human rights violations have been committed in the People’s Republic of China". Individuals sanctioned under this Regulation include Zhu Hailun, Wang Junzheng, Wang Mingshan, Chen Mingguo and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.<ref>Global Affairs Canada. 22 March 2021."[https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2021/03/china-sanctions.html]." Government of Canada.</ref>
===In Europe=== ====Czech Republic==== On 16 October 2022, the Czech Parliament approved Magnitsky legislation to act independently of the European Union's Magnistky sanctions. A particular concern was the Hungarian government of Viktor Orban, which has expressed pro-Russian sentiments and has managed to slow down EU-wide sanctions. Czechia is the fourth EU state (not including the United Kingdom, which passed a Magnitsky law before Brexit) to pass such legislation, after Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and this legislation will provide a legal basis for the Czech government to sanction human rights abusers. <ref name="tweet">{{cite web |title=billbrowder on Twitter: "BREAKING: This evening the Czech President signed the Czech Magnitsky Act into law. It's a done deal. Thank you @JanLipavsky, my friend, ally and Czech Foreign Minister who made this happen. This will be used to do lots of good things for victims of human rights abuse"|url=https://twitter.com/Billbrowder/status/1600593066380955657 |website=Twitter |date=7 December 2022 |access-date=7 December 2022}}</ref>
====European Union==== {{Main|EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime}} The European Parliament passed a resolution in March 2019 to urge EU and 28 member states to legislate similar with ''Magnitsky Act''.<ref>{{cite news|author=Rikard Jozwiak|date=2018-04-26|title=MEPs Urge EU Magnitsky Act To Tackle Kremlin's 'Antidemocratic' Activities|agency=Radio Free Europe|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-magnitsky-act-letter-russia-undemocratic-activities/29194557.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526073341/https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-magnitsky-act-letter-russia-undemocratic-activities/29194557.html|archivedate=2018-05-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=European Parliament resolution on a European human rights violations sanctions regime|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-8-2019-0179_EN.html?redirect|accessdate=2019-03-24|publisher=EU Parliament}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=2019-03-14|title=MEPs call for EU Magnitsky Act to impose sanctions on human rights abusers|publisher=EU Parliament|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20190307IPR30748/meps-call-for-eu-magnitsky-act-to-impose-sanctions-on-human-rights-abusers}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author1=Rikard Jozwiak|date=2019-03-14|title=European Parliament Urges EU To Adopt Legislation Like Magnitsky Act|publisher=Radio Free Europe|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/european-parliament-urges-eu-to-adopt-magnitsky-act-like-legislation/29821847.html}}</ref>
On 9 December 2019, the EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy High Representative Josep Borrell, who is the chief co-ordinator and representative of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) within the EU, announced that all member states had "agreed to launch the preparatory work for a global sanctions regime to address serious human rights violations, which will be the European Union equivalent of the so-called Magnitsky Act of the United States."<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 2019|title=The Magnitsky Act Comes to the EU: A Human Rights Sanctions Regime Proposed by the Netherlands|url=https://www.nhc.nl/the-magnitsky-act-comes-to-the-eu-a-human-rights-sanctions-regime-proposed-by-the-netherlands/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204003855/https://www.nhc.nl/the-magnitsky-act-comes-to-the-eu-a-human-rights-sanctions-regime-proposed-by-the-netherlands/|archive-date=4 February 2020|publisher=Netherlands Helsinki Committee}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=10 December 2019|title=EU ministers break ground on European 'Magnitsky Act'|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/eu-ministers-break-ground-on-european-magnitsky-act/|website=euractiv.com}}</ref>
On 7 December 2020, the European Union passed<ref>{{Cite web|last=Welle (www.dw.com)|first=Deutsche|title=EU approves its 'Magnitsky Act' to target human rights abuses {{!}} DW {{!}} 07.12.2020|url=https://www.dw.com/en/eu-approves-its-magnitsky-act-to-target-human-rights-abuses/a-55859105|access-date=2020-12-08|website=DW.COM|language=en-GB}}</ref> the ''European Magnitsky Act'',<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Legislative train schedule: European Magnitsky Act|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-a-stronger-europe-in-the-world/file-a-european-magnitsky-act|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-08|website=European Parliament}}</ref> which will allow the organization to "freeze assets and impose travel bans on individuals involved in serious human rights abuses".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-12-08|title=EU agrees its own 'Magnitsky' regime to sanction human rights abuses|url=https://www.euronews.com/2020/12/08/eu-agrees-its-own-magnitsky-regime-to-sanction-human-rights-abuses|access-date=2020-12-08|website=euronews|language=en}}</ref>
Among the criteria for sanctions are: genocide, crimes against humanity, torture, slavery, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, or detentions. The act establishes the following procedure to impose sanctions. Entitled to submit proposals for sanctions implementations, review or amendment are each of the member states and also the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The decision is to be taken by the Council of the European Union.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Norman|first=Laurence|date=2020-11-27|title=After U.S. Push, EU Set to Target Human-Rights Violators|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/after-u-s-push-eu-set-to-launch-new-human-rights-sanctions-regime-11606476221|access-date=2020-12-08|issn=0099-9660}}</ref>
====Estonia==== On 8 December 2016, Estonia introduced a new law that disallowed foreigners convicted of human rights abuses from entering Estonia. The law, which was passed unanimously in the Estonian Parliament, states that it entitles Estonia to disallow entry to people if, among other things, "there is information or good reason to believe" that they took part in activities which resulted in the "death or serious damage to health of a person."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rettman|first=Andrew|url=https://euobserver.com/foreign/136217|title=Estonia joins US in passing Magnitsky law|date=9 December 2016|newspaper=EUobserver|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161210120235/https://euobserver.com/foreign/136217|archive-date=10 December 2016}}</ref>
====Gibraltar==== In March 2018, Gibraltar passed Magnitsky legislation.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Graham|first=Chris|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/0/magnitsky-act-lawyers-death-spurred-global-fight-against-russian/|title=The Magnitsky Act: How a lawyer's death spurred a global fight against Russian corruption and abuses|date=11 March 2018|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200315071225/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/0/magnitsky-act-lawyers-death-spurred-global-fight-against-russian/|archive-date=15 March 2020|quote=Last week Gibraltar became the latest country to pass the law ...|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
====Jersey==== Jersey passed its '''''Sanctions and Asset Freezing (Jersey) Law''''' ('''SAFL''') in December 2018, going into effect on 19 July 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 2019|title=Sanctions and asset-freezing law|url=https://www.jerseyfsc.org/industry/international-co-operation/sanctions/sanctions-and-asset-freezing-law/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402154149/https://www.jerseyfsc.org/industry/international-co-operation/sanctions/sanctions-and-asset-freezing-law/|archive-date=2 April 2020|publisher=The Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Byrne|first=Rob|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-jersey-46372316|title=Putin critic welcomes "dirty"money law|date=6 December 2018|newspaper=BBC News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402151554/https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-jersey-46372316|archive-date=2 April 2020}}</ref> The new law reincorporated the effects of the previous ''Terrorist Asset-Freezing (Jersey) Law 2011'' (TAFL) and the ''United Nations Financial Sanctions (Jersey) Law 2017'' (UNFSL), which it repealed.
====Kosovo==== On 29 January 2020, Kosovo passed its Magnitsky law,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Bami|first=Xhorxhina|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2020/01/29/kosovo-to-adapt-magnitsky-act/|title=Outgoing Kosovo Govt Adopts Magnitsky Act|date=29 January 2020|newspaper=Balkan Insight|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130135216/https://balkaninsight.com/2020/01/29/kosovo-to-adapt-magnitsky-act/|archive-date=30 January 2020}}</ref> which was announced by Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli on Twitter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/pacollibehgjet/status/1222510949514350592|title=I'm proud that today the government of #Kosovo established the Kosovo #Magnitsky Act sanction foreign government officials implicated in human rights abuses anywhere in the world in line w/@StateDept practice. #Kosovo takes strategic step align its foreign policy w/United States.|last=Pacolli|first=Behgjet|date=29 January 2020|website=Twitter|url-access=registration|access-date=29 January 2020}}</ref>
====Lithuania==== On 16 November 2017, the 8th anniversary of Sergei Magnitsky's death, the Parliament of Lithuania (''Seimas'') unanimously passed their version of Magnitsky legislation.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lithuania: Parliament Adopts Version of Magnitsky Act |publisher=Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project |date=16 November 2017 |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/7265-lithuania-parliament-adopts-version-of-magnitsky-act |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711145620/https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/7265-lithuania-parliament-adopts-version-of-magnitsky-act |archive-date=11 July 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
====Latvia==== On 8 February 2018, the Parliament of Latvia (''Saeima'') accepted attachment of a law of sanctions, inspired by the Sergei Magnitsky case, to ban foreigners deemed guilty of human rights abuses from entering the country.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Latvia Becomes Final Baltic State to Pass Magnitsky Law |publisher=Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project |date=9 February 2018 |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/7621-latvia-becomes-final-baltic-state-to-pass-magnitsky-law |accessdate=18 July 2018}}</ref>
====United Kingdom==== {{Main|Criminal Finances Act 2017|Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018}} On 21 February 2017, the UK House of Commons unanimously passed an amendment to the country's Criminal Finances Bill inspired by the Magnitsky Act that would allow the government to freeze the assets of international human rights violators in the UK.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/6104-uk-house-of-commons-passes-the-magnitsky-asset-freezing-sanctions|title=UK House of Commons Passes the Magnitsky Asset Freezing Sanctions|date=21 February 2017|publisher=Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222120546/https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/6104-uk-house-of-commons-passes-the-magnitsky-asset-freezing-sanctions|archive-date=22 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="HofC-1">{{Cite web|url=http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8374/CBP-8374.pdf|title=Magnitsky legislation|last1=Smith|first1=Ben|last2=Dawson|first2=Joanna|date=27 July 2018|publisher=House of Commons}}</ref>
On 1 May 2018, without opposition, the Commons added the "Magnitsky amendment" to the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill, which would allow the British government to impose sanctions on people who commit gross human rights violations.<ref name="HofC-1" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-russia-magnitsky-idUSKBN1I24BI|title=UK lawmakers back 'Magnitsky amendment' on sanctions for human rights abuses|date=1 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129010144/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-russia-magnitsky-idUSKBN1I24BI|archive-date=29 January 2019|work=Reuters}}</ref>
===Australia=== Member of Parliament Michael Danby introduced a Magnitsky bill in the Australian parliament in December 2018 but was lapsed in April 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r6218|title=International Human Rights and Corruption (Magnitsky Sanctions) Bill 2018|date=December 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190120054439/https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r6218|archivedate=20 January 2019|agency=Parliament of Australia|url-status=live}}</ref>
In December 2019, the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Marise Payne, asked the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Human Rights Sub-committee to inquire into the use of targeted sanctions to address human rights abuses.<ref name=aph2021/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thediplomat.com/2020/07/slow-progress-toward-an-australian-magnitsky-act/|title=Slow Progress Toward an Australian Magnitsky Act|author=Philip Citowicki|date=2 July 2020|work=The Diplomat}}</ref> In 2020, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was asked about the possibility of Australia stopping the issuance of visas to Huawei Technologies employees for their complicity in China's human-rights violations, including in Xinjiang. The department stated that the inquiry into setting up Magnitsky-like rules was due to report to later in the year.<ref>Varghese, Sam. 18 July 2020. "[https://www.itwire.com/government-tech-policy/australia-looking-to-copy-us-and-adopt-magnitsky-style-human-rights-regime.html Australia looking to copy US and adopt Magnitsky-style human rights regime]." ''ITWire''.</ref> Meanwhile, Australia was urged by the Bill Browder, who lobbied the U.S. ''Magnitsky Act'' into Congress, to pass its own Magnitsky law or "risks becoming "a magnet for dirty money" from abusers and kleptocrats across the globe"<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/law/2020/feb/17/australia-urged-to-pass-magnitsky-human-rights-law-or-risk-becoming-haven-for-dirty-money|title=Australia urged to pass Magnitsky human rights law or risk becoming haven for dirty money|author=Ben Doherty|newspaper=The Guardian|date=17 February 2020}}</ref>
In December 2020, the Joint Standing Committee tabled its report and recommended that the Australian Government "enact stand alone targeted sanctions legislation to address human rights violations and corruption, similar to the United States' ''Magnitsky Act 2012'' which provides for sanctions targeted at individuals rather than existing sanctions regimes which are more often directed at states".<ref name=aph2021>{{cite web|last1=Wade|first1=Geoff|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/FlagPost/2021/August/Australia_and_Magnitsky_legislation|title=Australia and Magnitsky legislation|publisher=Parliament of Australia|date=20 August 2021|access-date=11 March 2022}}</ref> In August 2021, the Australian Government announced that it would adopt a sanctions law similar to the U.S. ''Magnitsky Act'' that allows targeted financial sanctions and travel bans against individuals for egregious acts of international concern that could include the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, gross human rights violations, malicious cyber activity, and serious corruption. Australia would reform its laws to expand country-based sanctions and specify the conduct to which sanctions could be applied by the end of the year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Australia to adopt Magnitsky style sanctions law |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-adopt-magnitsky-style-sanctions-law-2021-08-05/ |work=Reuters |date=2021-08-05 |access-date=2021-08-22}}</ref> Similar Magnitsky private member bills had also been introduced by Labor's Kimberley Kitching and Greens' Janet Rice. The government's legislation, introduced and passed in November 2021 and named ''Autonomous Sanctions Amendment (Magnitsky-style and Other Thematic Sanctions) Act 2021'', commenced on 8 December 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dfat.gov.au/news/news/autonomous-sanctions-amendment-magnitsky-style-and-other-thematic-sanctions-act-2021|title=Autonomous Sanctions Amendment (Magnitsky-style and Other Thematic Sanctions) Act 2021|publisher=Australian Government - Department of Foreign Affairs and Tradedate=8 August 2021|access-date=11 March 2022}}</ref>
In February and March 2022, in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Australia initially did not use the new law but instead used other pre-existing sanction laws to impose travel and financial sanctions on Russian individuals and entities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-10/victorian-labor-senator-kimberley-kitching-dies/100900882|title=Victorian Labor senator Kimberley Kitching dies suddenly in Melbourne aged 52|publisher=ABC News|date=10 March 2022|accessdate=10 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/australia-to-impose-harsh-financial-sanctions-travel-bans-on-russia-over-invasion-of-ukraine-20220223-p59yvf.html|title=Australia to impose harsh financial sanctions, travel bans on Russia over 'invasion' of Ukraine|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald|date=23 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Ferris|first1=Leah|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/FlagPost/2022/February/Sanctions_on_Russia|title=Sanctions imposed on Russia in response to aggression against Ukraine – how are they imposed under Australia's sanctions laws?|publisher=Parliament of Australia|date=28 February 2022}}</ref> However, Australia used its Magnitsky law for the first time on 29 March 2022 to sanction 39 Russian individuals "accused of serious corruption and involvement in the death and abuse" of Magnitsky.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-29/australian-government-magnitsky-list-to-target-corrupt-russians/100947534|title=Amid invasion of Ukraine, Australian government announces Magnitsky-style list to target corrupt Russians|publisher=ABC News|date=29 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/marise-payne/media-release/australias-first-magnitsky-style-sanctions|title=Australia's first Magnitsky-style sanctions|publisher=Australian Department of Foreign Affair and Trade|date=29 March 2022}}</ref>
==Russian response== {{Main|Dima Yakovlev Law}} In 2012, the Russian government responded to the new American ''Magnitsky Act'' by passing the Dima Yakovlev Law (long title: ''On Sanctions for Individuals Violating Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms of the Citizens of the Russian Federation'');<ref>"On Sanctions for Individuals Violating Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms of the Citizens of the Russian Federation"</ref><ref name="Englund">{{cite news|last=Englund|first=Will|date=11 December 2012|title=Russians say they'll name their Magnitsky-retaliation law after baby who died in a hot car in Va.|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2012/12/11/magnitsky-retaliation-man-baby/|url-status=live|url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212161723/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2012/12/11/magnitsky-retaliation-man-baby/|archive-date=12 December 2012}}</ref> banning Americans from adopting Russian children; and providing for sanctions against U.S. citizens involved in violations of the human rights and freedoms of Russian citizens.<ref name="Kremlin">{{Cite web|url=http://eng.kremlin.ru/acts/4810|title=A law on sanctions for individuals violating fundamental human rights and freedoms of Russian citizens has been signed|date=28 December 2012|publisher=Office of the President of Russia|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130102005952/http://eng.kremlin.ru/acts/4810|archive-date=2 January 2013}}</ref><ref name="MacFarquhar">{{Cite news|last1=MacFarquhar|first1=Neil|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/11/world/europe/natalia-veselnitskaya-donald-trump-jr-russian-lawyer.html|title=Natalia Veselnitskaya, Lawyer Who Met Trump Jr., Seen as Fearsome Moscow Insider|date=12 July 2017|newspaper=The New York Times|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712011753/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/11/world/europe/natalia-veselnitskaya-donald-trump-jr-russian-lawyer.html|archive-date=12 July 2017|last2=Kramer|first2=Andrew E.|page=A1}}</ref>
==Pending legislation== Magnitsky legislation is under consideration in a number of countries.
===Moldova=== In July 2018, a Magnitsky bill was introduced into the Moldovan parliament,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Cappello|first=John|url=https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2018/11/21/moldova_considers_adopting_the_global_magnitsky_act_113972.html|title=Moldova Considers Adopting the Global Magnitsky Act|date=21 November 2018|newspaper=Real Clear Defense|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402143850/https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2018/11/21/moldova_considers_adopting_the_global_magnitsky_act_113972.html|archive-date=2 April 2020|publisher=RealClear Media Group}}</ref> mandating sanctions against individuals who "have committed or contributed to human rights violations and particularly serious acts of corruption that are harmful to international political and economic stability."<ref name="Shagina" /> As of January 2020, it had not been acted upon;<ref name="Shagina" /><ref name="Infotag-1">{{Cite news|url=http://www.infotag.md/politics-en/281938/|title=DA platform suggests adopting analog to Magnitsky law in Moldova|date=21 January 2020|newspaper=Infotag|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402145128/http://www.infotag.md/politics-en/281938/|archive-date=2 April 2020}}</ref> however, the DA Platform party is still pushing for its adoption, although the ACUM coalition has dropped its demand for passage.<ref name="Infotag-1" />
===Ukraine=== In December 2017, there was a Magnitsky bill introduced into the Ukrainian parliament.<ref>{{cite news|title=Magnitsky Act has been introduced into Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) |newspaper=Samopomich (Самопоміч) |date=18 December 2017 |url=https://samopomich.ua/en/u-verhovnij-radi-predstavlenyj-akt-magnitskogo-pro-prava-lyudyny/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231022212/https://samopomich.ua/en/u-verhovnij-radi-predstavlenyj-akt-magnitskogo-pro-prava-lyudyny/|archivedate=31 December 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> The bill would have given authority to sanction foreign individuals who grossly violate human rights through the use of visa bans, asset freezes, and restrictions on asset transfer.<ref name="Shagina">{{Cite web|last=Shagina |first=Maria |date=26 April 2019 |title=Magnitsky-style sanctions in the Eastern Partnership |publisher=The European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) |url=https://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_magnitsky_sanctions_in_the_eastern_partnership }}</ref> However the bill was quickly tabled, and in September 2018, it was removed from the legislative agenda.<ref name="Shagina" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
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Category:Sanctions legislation Category:Magnitsky Act