MOSCOW — Russian legislators have given initial approval to a bill that would impose sanctions on Americans accused of human rights violations.
The measure, whose first reading in the lower house of parliament passed by a vote of 431-2, is a response to an American bill that President Barack Obama is expected sign into law on Friday.
The U.S. measure opens new export opportunities for Americans wanting to do business in Russia. But one section would punish Russian officials accused of human rights violations.
The Russian bill does not specify what criteria would be used to assess human rights violations, but Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said targets could include people who abuse adopted Russian children and people responsible for the creation of secret prisons.
