Dima Yakovlev Law to go through third reading at State Duma on Friday

MOSCOW, December 20 - RAPSI. The State Duma will consider the "Dima Yakovlev Law" in the third reading on Friday. The amendments to this will prohibit the adoption of Russian children by U.S. citizens and will also expand its scope, affecting not only Americans who violate the rights of Russian nationals, but citizens of all countries, United Russia faction head Vladimir Vasilyev told RIA Novosti on Thursday.

In addition, the bill bans non-commercial political organizations from operating in Russia if they receive financial support from the United States, as well as any non-profit organization whose activities are considered to pose a threat to Russian interests.

The "Dima Yakovlev Law" is Russia's response to the recent Magnitsky Law, adopted in the United States on December 6, which imposes visa sanctions on Russians involved in human rights violations.

Russia's bill also includes measures against U.S. citizens who are believed to have violated the rights of Russians, committed crimes against them, or were involved in crimes of this kind. It also envisages the drafting of a list of U.S. citizens who will be prohibited from entering Russia, and suspends the activity of any legal entities controlled by them in the country.

During the second reading, an amendment was approved which extends the scope of the bill's action to citizens of all countries, rather than just the United States. The amendment proposes that the law will affect citizens of those states which have decided to prohibit Russians from entering their country and which have arrested the assets of Russian citizens because they are thought to have been involved in human rights violations.

The State Duma has also approved the amendment on banning the adoption of Russian children by U.S. citizens, closing adoption agencies offering these services and terminating the Russian-U.S. agreement on child adoption.