Lawmakers Introduce Bill Urging Sanctions Against Russian Government Officials

Two members of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs introduced legislation that urges the Trump administration to sanction Russian government officials responsible for human rights abuses. Reps. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., and Michael McCaul, R-Tex., said the bill aims to penalize the Russian government for imprisoning journalists, political opposition leaders and religious freedom activists, according to a May 11 press release. The bill asks the administration to impose sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights accountability Act or “other applicable” authorities.