Russia to make prompt response to Magnitsky list

Russia will promptly present its response to the United States’ Magnitsky list, the head of the State Duma’s international affairs committee, Alexei Pushkov, said in the wake of media reports about US senators’ proposals for compiling such a list. “Russia’s response will follow quickly enough, as soon as it becomes clear what version of the list - short or long - the Obama Administration has chosen,” Pushkov said on the Russian News Service radio station on Friday. He speculated that Russia’s retaliatory list might include some members of the George W. Bush Administration. “I believe it is quite possible to raise the question of including in such a list those officials of the Bush Administration who are responsible for the use of torture and other abuse in the Guantanamo jail, and for the torture of prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan. I believe that Russia’s opportunities for expanding such a list are quite considerable,” Pushkov said. According to media reports the Magnitsky list may be expanded to include up to 280 senior Russian officials, including the head of the Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin and Prosecutor-General Yuri Chaika. The proposed list Congress member James McGovern has presented is recommendatory. Obama is to approve a final version by April 13.