Posted on 04/28/2013 11:44:48 AM PDT by kronos77
The Magnitsky law and the black-list is a mistake and will damage Russian-US relations despite the recent 'reset' policy, Aleksey Pushkov, head of foreign affairs committee of Russian State Duma, told RT.
Obama is hostage to Congress, yet he will feel the negative effects of the law, Pushkov believes.
RT: How big of a blow is this spat for relations between Russia and the United States?
Aleksey Pushkov: I think it is quite a blow. The Magnitsky Law when adopted by the US Congress and signed by the US president - it was already a blow. And we warned the United States about this. But somehow I think the message did not go through. The feeling in Washington was that they can adopt any laws they want, any type of laws that will interfere in Russian domestic affairs and Moscow will swallow this. Well, Moscow didn't swallow this, and I think that the setting for Mr. Thomas Donilon, the national security adviser for Obama, is very negative indeed. I think that this exchange of 'black-lists' is not something that will really do a lot of good to the already ailing Russian-American relationship.
RT: Ultimately, the US started this row by introducing the Magnitsky Law and publishing its list of Russian officials, do you think Russia was correct to almost stoop to that level? Some might say Russia is even making it worse.
(Excerpt) Read more at rt.com ...
On February 4th, 2013, Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, addressed the Duma...
-
“In Russia live Russian. Any minority, from anywhere, if it wants to live in Russia, to work and eat in Russia, should speak Russian, and should respect the Russian laws.
If they prefer Sharia Law, then we advise them to go to those places where that’s the state law. Russia does not need minorities. Minorities need Russia, and we will not grant them special privileges, or try to change our laws to fit their desires, no matter how loud they yell ‘discrimination’.
We better learn from the suicides of America, England, Holland and France, if we are to survive as a nation. The Russian customs and traditions are not compatible with the lack of culture or the primitive ways of most minorities. When this honorable legislative body thinks of creating new laws, it should have in mind the national interest first, observing that the minorities are NOT Russians!”
National interests first!?! What a novel concept. /s
In June 2012, the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed the bill as the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012 (H.R. 4405).[5] The main intention of the law was to punish Russian officials who were thought to be responsible for the death of Sergei Magnitsky by prohibiting their entrance to the United States and use of their banking system.[1] The legislation was to be taken up by a Senate panel the next week and was cited in a broader review of the mounting tensions in the international relationship.[6][7] The bill was sponsored by Senator Ben Cardin.
In November 2012, provisions of the Magnitsky bill were attached to a House bill (H.R. 6156) normalizing trade with Russia (i.e. repealing Jackson–Vanik amendment) and Moldova.[8] On 6 December 2012 U.S. Senate passed the House version of the law.[1] The law was signed by President Barack Obama on December 14, 2012.[9][10][11][12]
Why on Earth are we that invested in the internal politics of Russia? Congress and the President have nothing to say about Gosnell but we’re upset somebody in Russia was killed by other government officials? I suspect that happens a lot. Recently, some Russian official had another official kidnapped and tortured because of some missing public funding. The Russians actually found and arrested the culprit. Let them deal with this.
Is that how 0bummer is improving our international relations?
It doesn’t sound like the worst thing government has ever done ...
Are you referring to Russia building Iran’s nuclear weapon infrastructure?
I swear I’m tempted to search for real estate in Russia that’s similar to mine. At least I’d know my President loves me.
Not sure of what future Presidents will do, but I don't have high expectations.
G.W. Bush was guilty of your charge, sadly, so I see why you include Republicans.
But then again, there never may be a future Republican President, and if so, likely a RINO.
I'm not sure how this is any business of the United States.
And we all forget that US allowed Pakistan to have nukes and ballistic missiles.
Sure, Russia built Iran's nuke facilities, IN IRAN, where if they go wrong they blow up IRAN, not Russia.
The DemoRats built the Communist and Muslim terrorist foreigner immigrant infrastructure in the UNITED STATES so when it blows up, it blows up in America.
See? Putin Does learn from observing others.
The US backs the Saudis and Russia backs the Iranians. Don’t think the US’s on again off again relationship with groups like Al Qaueda is a neglect to read history, but way to control it.
This is a story of grotesque levels of State corruption, and tyrannical abuse of the legal system to carry it out, and enforce a code of silence. Stopping “business as usual” with the perpetrators seems a reasonable, if small, measure in support of the rule of law. If only our bold Congressmen and Senators would do the same for our own country.
Sometimes that "control" part doesn't work out as intended, but, of course, it just wasn't done by the right people, it'll work this time.
>>>Background on Sergei Magnitsky.
I’m not sure how this is any business of the United States.<<<
In fact Magnitski was an attorney for Bill Browder who is an affiliate to Soros and Madoff.
That a nice bunch, isn’t it?
The Russians have had to deal with Islam/Muslim interference over many years. I believe they remember vividly but the USA does not remember or intentionally ignores that the Muslim/Islam nations sided with Nazi Germany during WWII. Of course oil seems to have made these nations acceptable now, and having a person like Obama and his enablers in places of government, think CIA director Bennett, helps shape the National mood.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.