European Parliament To Debate EU Sanctions For Magnitsky Case

A Russian opposition event in Moscow in late July

STRASBOURG, France -- The European Parliament was set to debate a proposal on October 22 that would require EU member states to establish visa restrictions for Russian officials involved in the Sergei Magnitsky case.

The Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament recently voted overwhelmingly to introduce sanctions on individuals responsible for the death of the Russian attorney, who died in pretrial custody in 2009.

Magnitsky had been arrested after implicating top Russian officials in a corruption scheme.

The full parliament is expected to endorse the proposal on October 23.

Apart from an EU-wide visa ban, the text also suggests that officials involved in the case should have their assets in the European Union frozen.

EU lawmakers passed a similar resolution in 2010, but EU member states have so far been reluctant to enact common sanctions.