MOSCOW - Russia will respond to the adoption of the Magnitsky Act by denying entry-visas to those who violate human rights in the United States, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told journalists.
Lavrov spoke after a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and UN and Arab League peace envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi in Dublin.
“I confirmed at the meeting with Hillary Clinton in Dublin that we will close entry to Americans who have been guilty of human rights violations,” the Russian minister said.
On Thursday, the U.S. Senate passed the Magnitsky Act, which, while automatically repealing the Jackson-Vanik amendment, will allow Washington to deny visas and impose financial sanctions on Russian officials allegedly involved in the death of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky and other human rights violations.
In its statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry dismissed the adoption of the bill by the U.S. Senate as “a play in the theater of the absurd.”
“It is strange and savage to hear human rights claims from politicians of the state that officially legalized torture and kidnappings all over the world in the 21st century,” the ministry said.
“We have to remind hyperactive adversaries of the normal development of Russian-U.S. relations that their effort looks poor. Nevertheless the Russian side will have to respond,” it said.
