Australia has introduced the first package of sanctions on Russian nationals suspected of corruption-related crimes and those whom the Australian authorities deem complicit in the death of lawyer Sergey Magnitsky, Minister of Foreign Affairs Marise Payne said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Today I announce the first set of Australian Magnitsky-style listings under the Morrison Government’s thematic sanctions framework, targeting Russian individuals responsible for the corruption that Sergey Magnitsky uncovered and those complicit in his subsequent mistreatment and death,” the statement reads.
“In this first tranche, the Government will honor Mr Magnitsky and all who defend the rule of law, with targeted sanctions and travel bans against 14 Russian individuals responsible for the serious corruption that he exposed and a further 25 Russian perpetrators and accomplices of his abuse and death,” Payne added.
According to the top diplomat, “these individuals will be subject to targeted financial sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans. “This will ensure that Australia does not become a safe haven for those already locked out of like-minded countries and their financial systems,” she added.
The US passed the Sergey Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act in 2012, imposing unilateral sanctions on Russian officials who, according to Washington, are involved in human rights violations in Russia.
