Magnitsky Act facts for kids
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| Long title | Russia and Moldova Jackson–Vanik Repeal and Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012 |
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| Nicknames | Magnitsky Act |
| Enacted by | the 112th United States Congress |
| Citations | |
| Public law | Pub.L. 112-208 |
| Statutes at Large | 126 Stat. 1496 |
| Legislative history | |
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The Magnitsky Act is an important law passed by the U.S. Congress in December 2012. President Barack Obama signed it into law. This law was supported by both major political parties, which is called bipartisan.
The main goals of the Magnitsky Act were to punish Russian officials. These officials were believed to be involved in the death of a Russian lawyer named Sergei Magnitsky. He died in a prison in Moscow in 2009. The act also aimed to make trade easier between the U.S. and Russia.
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What is the Magnitsky Act?
The Magnitsky Act is a special law in the United States. It allows the U.S. government to take action against certain people. These people are usually foreign government officials.
The law lets the U.S. freeze their money and property. It also stops them from traveling to the United States. This is a way to punish people who are seen as violating human rights.
Why Was the Act Created?
The Magnitsky Act is named after Sergei Magnitsky. He was a Russian tax lawyer. In 2007, he found out about a huge tax fraud in Russia. This fraud involved a lot of money.
Sergei Magnitsky reported this crime. However, instead of the criminals being caught, he was arrested. He was put in prison in 2008.
The Story of Sergei Magnitsky
While in prison, Sergei Magnitsky became very sick. He was not given proper medical care. He died in prison in 2009. Many people believed he was treated unfairly.
His death caused a lot of concern around the world. People wanted to make sure that those responsible were held accountable. The Magnitsky Act was created because of this. It aimed to punish the Russian officials believed to be involved in his death.
How Does the Act Work?
The Magnitsky Act gives the U.S. government power. It can place sanctions on individuals. Sanctions are like penalties. They can include freezing assets and banning travel.
This means that if a person is on the Magnitsky list, their money in U.S. banks can be blocked. They also cannot get a visa to enter the U.S. This makes it hard for them to do business or travel internationally.
Global Magnitsky Act
In 2016, a new version of the law was passed. It is called the Global Magnitsky Act. This law is part of a bigger defense spending bill.
The Global Magnitsky Act is even broader. It allows the U.S. government to punish human rights offenders anywhere in the world. It is not just limited to Russia.
Impact of the Global Act
This global version means the U.S. can act against officials from any country. If they are found to have violated human rights, they can face sanctions. This includes freezing their money and banning them from the U.S.
The Global Magnitsky Act shows that the U.S. is serious about human rights. It provides a tool to promote justice around the world. It helps hold powerful people accountable for their actions.
