MEPs ponder parliament-level Russia sanctions

It is early days, they have no majority and it has never been done before, but MEPs in the Liberal group are pondering the creation of a European-Parliament-level travel ban on Russian officials. Group leader and former Belgian PM Guy Verhofstadt floated the idea in a statement on 2 May 2013.

"I fully believe that the European Union should follow the US Congress and Senate in adopting a sanctions list. If the European Council fails to act in this regard, then the European Parliament should establish its own list based on the US Congress visa ban list," he said.

Verhofstadt was referring to a US ban on 18 Russian officials said to be involved in the murder of Russian whistleblower Sergei Magnitsky.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background Information: EU and Russia in visa-free talks, despite Magnitsky 'regret' http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-and-russia-in-visa-free-talks-despite-magnitsky-regret/

EUObserver, 21.05.13: Russia asks Interpol to track Magnitsky campaigner http://euobserver.com/foreign/120178

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