US Petition to Scrap Magnitsky Act Against Russians Reaches 100,000 Goal

An online petition to repeal a US law sanctioning Russian officials allegedly involved in the death of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky has received enough signatures to qualify for an official response from the White House within 60 days.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The petition was launched on the US administration’s website on April 23 and had until May 23 to collect 100,000 signatures in order to receive an answer. It has already surpassed that target by 9,000.

The petition has gained enough signatories to receive a response from the White House.

The text of the petition claims that the so-called Magnitsky Act "discredits the US legislature" and should be reversed because it was adopted through lobbying by "frauds" wanted by Russian law enforcement agencies.

The Magnitsky Act allows the US Treasury Department to impose sanctions on Russian officials believed to be responsible for Magnitsky's death in pre-trial detention.

Magnitsky was a legal consultant for the London-based Hermitage Capital Management investment fund. He was being held in custody in 2008 on suspicion of involvement in a tax evasion scheme when he died.

Russia responded to the Magnitsky Act by issuing its own blacklist, which includes US officials linked to human rights violations, some of whom were involved in the construction and maintenance of the Guantanamo Bay detention center.