Britain’s sanctions against several Russian citizens for violating human rights in the framework of the "Magnitsky amendment" should be considered as part of the policy of London, which he gives in relation to Moscow, said RIA Novosti Professor of European law of MGIMO-University Nikolai Topornin.
Earlier the Financial Times reported that British foreign Secretary Dominic Raab on Monday will announce the names of citizens of Russia and Saudi Arabia, against which sanctions will be imposed for the violation of human rights in the framework of the "Magnitsky amendment".
"It is the direction of policy in Britain believe that Russia is guilty of many violations of human rights. To say that this is timed, is not worth it. The country is now mainly focused on fighting the coronavirus, and Britain is no exception. Hardly anyone there is trying to distract someone’s attention, introducing sanctions against individuals. It goes on, in line with the policy that Britain as a whole holds against Russia," – the expert said in an interview with the Agency.
New sanctions can no longer harm bilateral relations, as they are already very bad, said Topornin. Compared with Kripalani it’s still a very minor phenomenon, he added.
"we can only say that this is another part the deterioration of relations between Russia and Britain. But the relationship is so bad that degrade them any longer. They are clearly not improving, but not particularly worse" – he emphasized.
In October 2018 the British government said that after leaving the EU, Britain will start applying their own sanctions legislation. The Cabinet of Ministers promised to publish national lists of persons subject to sanctions, "normal mode" in the electronic database of legislative documents.
The law "On sanctions and measures against the laundering of money" with "Magnitsky amendment" to enable authorities of Britain to impose sanctions against those who violate human rights, entered into force may 24, 2018, with the approval of Queen Elizabeth II. The law provides that it will apply only after the British exit from the EU. The authors of this law are the Minister of foreign Affairs of great Britain (at the time of introduction of the document) Boris Johnson and Deputy foreign Minister Tariq Ahmed.
Employee of a major investment Fund Hermitage Capital Management Sergey Magnitsky, whom Russian authorities accused of tax fraud, died in prison "sailor’s silence" in November 2009, having been in prison for almost a year. His death caused a wide public resonance both in Russia and abroad.
