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Public Law No: 112-208 (12/14/2012)

[112th Congress Public Law 208] [From the U.S. Government Printing Office] [[Page 1495]] RUSSIA AND MOLDOVA JACKSON-VANIK REPEAL AND SERGEI MAGNITSKY RULE OF LAW ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2012 [[Page 126 STAT. 1496]] Public Law 112-208 112th Congress An Act To authorize the extension of nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to products of the Russian Federation and Moldova and to require reports on the compliance of the Russian Federation with its obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Dec. 14, 2012 - [H.R. 6156]>> Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik Repeal and Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012.>> SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. (a) Short <<NOTE: 19 USC 2101 note.>> Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik Repeal and Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012''. (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. TITLE I--PERMANENT NORMAL TRADE <<NOTE: 19 USC 2434 note.>> RELATIONS FOR THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION Sec. 101. Findings. Sec. 102. Termination of application of title IV of the Trade Act of 1974 to products of the Russian Federation. TITLE II--TRADE ENFORCEMENT MEASURES <<NOTE: 19 USC 2434 note.>> RELATING TO THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION Sec. 201. Reports on implementation by the Russian Federation of obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization and enforcement actions by the United States Trade Representative. Sec. 202. Promotion of the rule of law in the Russian Federation to support United States trade and investment. Sec. 203. Reports on laws, policies, and practices of the Russian Federation that discriminate against United States digital trade. Sec. 204. Efforts to reduce barriers to trade imposed by the Russian Federation. TITLE III--PERMANENT NORMAL <<NOTE: 19 USC 2434 note.>> TRADE RELATIONS FOR MOLDOVA Sec. 301. Findings. Sec. 302. Termination of application of title IV of the Trade Act of 1974 to products of Moldova. TITLE IV--SERGEI MAGNITSKY RULE OF LAW ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2012 Sec. 401. Short title. Sec. 402. Findings; sense of Congress. Sec. 403. Definitions. Sec. 404. Identification of persons responsible for the detention, abuse, and death of Sergei Magnitsky and other gross violations of human rights. Sec. 405. Inadmissibility of certain aliens. Sec. 406. Financial measures. Sec. 407. Report to Congress. [[Page 126 STAT. 1497]] TITLE I--PERMANENT NORMAL <<NOTE: 19 USC 2434 note.>> TRADE RELATIONS FOR THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION SEC. 101. FINDINGS. Congress finds the following: (1) The Russian Federation allows its citizens the right and opportunity to emigrate, free of any heavy tax on emigration or on the visas or other documents required for emigration and free of any tax, levy, fine, fee, or other charge on any citizens as a consequence of the desire of those citizens to emigrate to the country of their choice. (2) The Russian Federation has been found to be in full compliance with the freedom of emigration requirements under title IV of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2431 et seq.) since 1994. (3) The Russian Federation has received normal trade relations treatment since concluding a bilateral trade agreement with the United States that entered into force in 1992. (4) On December 16, 2011, the Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization invited the Russian Federation to accede to the World Trade Organization. SEC. 102. TERMINATION OF APPLICATION OF TITLE IV OF THE TRADE ACT OF 1974 TO PRODUCTS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION. (a) Presidential Determinations and Extension of Nondiscriminatory Treatment.--Notwithstanding any provision of title IV of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2431 et seq.), the President may-- (1) determine that such title should no longer apply to the Russian Federation; and (2) after making a determination under paragraph (1) with respect to the Russian Federation, proclaim the extension of nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to the products of the Russian Federation. (b) Effective Date of Nondiscriminatory Treatment.--The extension of nondiscriminatory treatment to the products of the Russian Federation pursuant to subsection (a) shall be effective not sooner than the effective date of the accession of the Russian Federation to the World Trade Organization. (c) Termination of Applicability of Title IV.--On and after the effective date under subsection (b) of the extension of nondiscriminatory treatment to the products of the Russian Federation, title IV of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2431 et seq.) shall cease to apply to the Russian Federation. [[Page 126 STAT. 1498]] TITLE II--TRADE ENFORCEMENT <<NOTE: 19 USC 2434 note.>> MEASURES RELATING TO THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION SEC. 201. REPORTS ON IMPLEMENTATION BY THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION OF OBLIGATIONS AS A MEMBER OF THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION AND ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS BY THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE. (a) Reports on Implementation.-- (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the effective date under section 102(b) of the extension of nondiscriminatory treatment to the products of the Russian Federation, and annually thereafter, the United States Trade Representative shall submit to the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives a report assessing the following: (A) The extent to which the Russian Federation is implementing the WTO Agreement (as defined in section 2 of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3501)) and the following agreements annexed to that Agreement: (i) The Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (referred to in section 101(d)(3) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3511(d)(3))). (ii) The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (referred to in section 101(d)(15) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3511(d)(15))). (B) The progress made by the Russian Federation in acceding to, and the extent to which the Russian Federation is implementing, the following: (i) The Ministerial Declaration on Trade in Information Technology Products of the World Trade Organization, agreed to at Singapore December 13, 1996 (commonly referred to as the ``Information Technology Agreement'') (or a successor agreement). (ii) The Agreement on Government Procurement (referred to in section 101(d)(17) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3511(d)(17))). (2) Plan for action by trade representative.-- (A) In general.--If, in preparing a report required by paragraph (1), the Trade Representative believes that the Russian Federation is not fully implementing an agreement specified in subparagraph (A) or (B) of that paragraph or that the Russian Federation is not making adequate progress in acceding to an agreement specified in subparagraph (B) of that paragraph, the Trade Representative shall, except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, include in the report a description of the actions the Trade Representative plans to take to encourage the Russian Federation to improve its implementation of the agreement or increase its progress in acceding to the agreement, as the case may be. (B) Classified information.--If any information regarding a planned action referred to in subparagraph [[Page 126 STAT. 1499]] (A) is classifiable under Executive Order No. 13526 (75 Fed. Reg. 707; relating to classified national security information) or a subsequent Executive order, the Trade Representative shall report that information to the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives by-- (i) including the information in a classified annex to the report required by paragraph (1); or (ii) consulting with the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Ways and Means with respect to the information instead of including the information in the report or a classified annex to the report. (3) Public comments.-- (A) In general.--In developing the report required by paragraph (1), the Trade Representative shall provide an opportunity for the public to comment, including by holding a public hearing. (B) Publication <<NOTE: Notice.>> in federal register.--The Trade Representative shall publish notice of the opportunity to comment and hearing required by subparagraph (A) in the Federal Register. (b) Report on Enforcement Actions Taken by Trade Representative.-- Not later than 180 days after the effective date under section 102(b) of the extension of nondiscriminatory treatment to the products of the Russian Federation, and annually thereafter, the United States Trade Representative shall submit to the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives a report describing the enforcement actions taken by the Trade Representative against the Russian Federation to ensure the full compliance of the Russian Federation with its obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization, including obligations under agreements with members of the Working Party on the accession of the Russian Federation to the World Trade Organization. SEC. 202. PROMOTION OF THE RULE OF LAW IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION TO SUPPORT UNITED STATES TRADE AND INVESTMENT. (a) Reports on Promotion of Rule of Law.--Not later than one year after the effective date under section 102(b) of the extension of nondiscriminatory treatment to the products of the Russian Federation, and annually thereafter, the United States Trade Representative and the Secretary of State shall jointly submit to the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives a report-- (1) on the measures taken by the Trade Representative and the Secretary and the results achieved during the year preceding the submission of the report with respect to promoting the rule of law in the Russian Federation, including with respect to-- (A) strengthening formal protections for United States investors in the Russian Federation, including through the negotiation of a new bilateral investment treaty; (B) advocating for United States investors in the Russian Federation, including by promoting the claims of United States investors in Yukos Oil Company; [[Page 126 STAT. 1500]] (C) encouraging all countries that are parties to the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, done at Paris December 17, 1997 (commonly referred to as the ``OECD Anti-Bribery Convention''), including the Russian Federation, to fully implement their commitments under the Convention to prevent overseas business bribery by the nationals of those countries; (D) promoting a customs administration, tax administration, and judiciary in the Russia Federation that are free of corruption; and (E) increasing cooperation between the United States and the Russian Federation to expand the capacity for civil society organizations to monitor, investigate, and report on suspected instances of corruption; and (2) that discloses the status of any pending petition for espousal filed with the Secretary by a United States investor in the Russian Federation. (b) Anti-Bribery Reporting and Assistance.-- (1) In <<NOTE: Communications and tele- communications. Web site.>> general.--The Secretary of Commerce shall establish and maintain a dedicated phone hotline and secure website, accessible from within and outside the Russian Federation, for the purpose of allowing United States entities-- (A) to report instances of bribery, attempted bribery, or other forms of corruption in the Russian Federation that impact or potentially impact their operations; and (B) to request the assistance of the United States with respect to issues relating to corruption in the Russian Federation. (2) Report required.-- (A) In general.--Not later than one year after the effective date under section 102(b) of the extension of nondiscriminatory treatment to the products of the Russian Federation, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Commerce shall submit to the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives a report that includes the following: (i) The number of instances in which bribery, attempted bribery, or other forms of corruption have been reported using the hotline or website established pursuant to paragraph (1). (ii) A description of the regions in the Russian Federation in which those instances are alleged to have occurred. (iii) A summary of actions taken by the United States to provide assistance to United States entities pursuant to paragraph (1)(B). (iv) A description of the efforts taken by the Secretary to inform United States entities conducting business in the Russian Federation or considering conducting business in the Russian Federation of the availability of assistance through the hotline and website. (B) Confidentiality.--The Secretary shall not include in the report required by subparagraph (A) the identity [[Page 126 STAT. 1501]] of a United States entity that reports instances of bribery, attempted bribery, or other forms of corruption in the Russian Federation or requests assistance pursuant to paragraph (1). SEC. 203. REPORTS ON LAWS, POLICIES, AND PRACTICES OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION THAT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST UNITED STATES DIGITAL TRADE. Section 181(a) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2241(a)) is amended-- (1) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: ``(3) Inclusion of certain discriminatory laws, policies, and practices of the russian federation.--For calender year and each succeeding calendar year, the Trade Representative shall include in the analyses and estimates under paragraph (1) an identification and analysis of any laws, policies, or practices of the Russian Federation that deny fair and equitable market access to United States digital trade.''. SEC. 204. EFFORTS TO REDUCE BARRIERS TO TRADE IMPOSED BY THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION. The United States Trade Representative shall continue to pursue the reduction of barriers to trade imposed by the Russian Federation on articles exported from the United States to the Russian Federation through efforts-- (1) to negotiate a bilateral agreement under which the Russian Federation will accept the sanitary and phytosanitary measures of the United States as equivalent to the sanitary and phytosanitary measures of the Russian Federation; and (2) to obtain the adoption by the Russian Federation of an action plan for providing greater protections for intellectual property rights than the protections required by the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (referred to in section 101(d)(15) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3511(d)(15))). TITLE III--PERMANENT <<NOTE: 19 USC 2434 note.>> NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS FOR MOLDOVA SEC. 301. FINDINGS. Congress finds the following: (1) Moldova allows its citizens the right and opportunity to emigrate, free of any heavy tax on emigration or on the visas or other documents required for emigration and free of any tax, levy, fine, fee, or other charge on any citizens as a consequence of the desire of those citizens to emigrate to the country of their choice. (2) Moldova has been found to be in full compliance with the freedom of emigration requirements under title IV of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2431 et seq.) since 1997. (3) Moldova acceded to the World Trade Organization on July 26, 2001. [[Page 126 STAT. 1502]] SEC. 302. TERMINATION OF APPLICATION OF TITLE IV OF THE TRADE ACT OF 1974 TO PRODUCTS OF MOLDOVA. (a) Presidential Determinations and Extension of Nondiscriminatory Treatment.--Notwithstanding any provision of title IV of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2431 et seq.), the President may-- (1) determine that such title should no longer apply to Moldova; and (2) after making a determination under paragraph (1) with respect to Moldova, proclaim the extension of nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to the products of Moldova. (b) Termination of Applicability of Title IV.--On and after the date on which the President extends nondiscriminatory treatment to the products of Moldova pursuant to subsection (a), title IV of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2431 et seq.) shall cease to apply to Moldova. TITLE IV--SERGEI <<NOTE: Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012. 22 USC 5811 note.>> MAGNITSKY RULE OF LAW ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2012 SEC. 401. SHORT TITLE. This title may be cited as the ``Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012''. SEC. 402. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS. (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following: (1) The United States aspires to a mutually beneficial relationship with the Russian Federation based on respect for human rights and the rule of law, and supports the people of the Russian Federation in their efforts to realize their full economic potential and to advance democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. (2) The Russian Federation-- (A) is a member of the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Council of Europe, and the International Monetary Fund; (B) has ratified the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the United Nations Convention against Corruption; and (C) is bound by the legal obligations set forth in the European Convention on Human Rights. (3) States voluntarily commit themselves to respect obligations and responsibilities through the adoption of international agreements and treaties, which must be observed in good faith in order to maintain the stability of the international order. Human rights are an integral part of international law, and lie at the foundation of the international order. The protection of human rights, therefore, particularly in the case of a country that has incurred obligations to protect human rights under an international agreement to which it is a party, is not left exclusively to the internal affairs of that country. (4) Good governance and anti-corruption measures are instrumental in the protection of human rights and in achieving [[Page 126 STAT. 1503]] sustainable economic growth, which benefits both the people of the Russian Federation and the international community through the creation of open and transparent markets. (5) Systemic corruption erodes trust and confidence in democratic institutions, the rule of law, and human rights protections. This is the case when public officials are allowed to abuse their authority with impunity for political or financial gains in collusion with private entities. (6) The Russian nongovernmental organization INDEM has estimated that bribes by individuals and businesses in the Russian Federation amount to hundreds of billions of dollars a year, an increasing share of the country's gross domestic product. (7) Sergei Leonidovich Magnitsky died on November 16, 2009, at the age of 37, in Matrosskaya Tishina Prison in Moscow, Russia, and is survived by a mother, a wife, and 2 sons. (8) On July 6, 2011, Russian President Dimitry Medvedev's Human Rights Council announced the results of its independent investigation into the death of Sergei Magnitsky. The Human Rights Council concluded that Sergei Magnitsky's arrest and detention was illegal; he was denied access to justice by the courts and prosecutors of the Russian Federation; he was investigated by the same law enforcement officers whom he had accused of stealing Hermitage Fund companies and illegally obtaining a fraudulent $230,000,000 tax refund; he was denied necessary medical care in custody; he was beaten by 8 guards with rubber batons on the last day of his life; and the ambulance crew that was called to treat him as he was dying was deliberately kept outside of his cell for one hour and 18 minutes until he was dead. The report of the Human Rights Council also states the officials falsified their accounts of what happened to Sergei Magnitsky and, 18 months after his death, no officials had been brought to trial for his false arrest or the crime he uncovered. The impunity continued in April 2012, when Russian authorities dropped criminal charges against Larisa Litvinova, the head doctor at the prison where Magnitsky died. (9) The systematic abuse of Sergei Magnitsky, including his repressive arrest and torture in custody by officers of the Ministry of the Interior of the Russian Federation that Mr. Magnitsky had implicated in the embezzlement of funds from the Russian Treasury and the misappropriation of 3 companies from his client, Hermitage Capital Management, reflects how deeply the protection of human rights is affected by corruption. (10) The politically motivated nature of the persecution of Mr. Magnitsky is demonstrated by-- (A) the denial by all state bodies of the Russian Federation of any justice or legal remedies to Mr. Magnitsky during the nearly 12 full months he was kept without trial in detention; and (B) the impunity since his death of state officials he testified against for their involvement in corruption and the carrying out of his repressive persecution. (11) The Public Oversight Commission of the City of Moscow for the Control of the Observance of Human Rights in Places of Forced Detention, an organization empowered by [[Page 126 STAT. 1504]] Russian law to independently monitor prison conditions, concluded on December 29, 2009, ``A man who is kept in custody and is being detained is not capable of using all the necessary means to protect either his life or his health. This is a responsibility of a state which holds him captive. Therefore, the case of Sergei Magnitsky can be described as a breach of the right to life. The members of the civic supervisory commission have reached the conclusion that Magnitsky had been experiencing both psychological and physical pressure in custody, and the conditions in some of the wards of Butyrka can be justifiably called torturous. The people responsible for this must be punished.''. (12) Sergei Magnitsky's experience, while particularly illustrative of the negative effects of official corruption on the rights of an individual citizen, appears to be emblematic of a broader pattern of disregard for the numerous domestic and international human rights commitments of the Russian Federation and impunity for those who violate basic human rights and freedoms. (13) The second trial, verdict, and sentence against former Yukos executives Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev evoke serious concerns about the right to a fair trial and the independence of the judiciary in the Russian Federation. The lack of credible charges, intimidation of witnesses, violations of due process and procedural norms, falsification or withholding of documents, denial of attorney-client privilege, and illegal detention in the Yukos case are highly troubling. The Council of Europe, Freedom House, and Amnesty International, among others, have concluded that they were charged and imprisoned in a process that did not follow the rule of law and was politically influenced. Furthermore, senior officials of the Government of the Russian Federation, including First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, have acknowledged that the arrest and imprisonment of Khodorkovsky were politically motivated. (14) According to Freedom House's 2011 report entitled ``The Perpetual Battle: Corruption in the Former Soviet Union and the New EU Members'', ``[t]he highly publicized cases of Sergei Magnitsky, a 37-year-old lawyer who died in pretrial detention in November 2009 after exposing a multimillion-dollar fraud against the Russian taxpayer, and Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the jailed business magnate and regime critic who was sentenced at the end of 2010 to remain in prison through 2017, put an international spotlight on the Russian state's contempt for the rule of law * * *. By silencing influential and accomplished figures such as Khodorkovsky and Magnitsky, the Russian authorities have made it abundantly clear that anyone in Russia can be silenced.''. (15) The tragic and unresolved murders of Nustap Abdurakhmanov, Maksharip Aushev, Natalya Estemirova, Akhmed Hadjimagomedov, Umar Israilov, Paul Klebnikov, Anna Politkovskaya, Saihadji Saihadjiev, and Magomed Y. Yevloyev, the death in custody of Vera Trifonova, the disappearances of Mokhmadsalakh Masaev and Said-Saleh Ibragimov, the torture of Ali Israilov and Islam Umarpashaev, the near-fatal beatings of Mikhail Beketov, Oleg Kashin, Arkadiy Lander, and Mikhail Vinyukov, and the harsh and ongoing [[Page 126 STAT. 1505]] imprisonment of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Alexei Kozlov, Platon Lebedev, and Fyodor Mikheev further illustrate the grave danger of exposing the wrongdoing of officials of the Government of the Russian Federation, including Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, or of seeking to obtain, exercise, defend, or promote internationally recognized human rights and freedoms. (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the United States should continue to strongly support, and provide assistance to, the efforts of the Russian people to establish a vibrant democratic political system that respects individual liberties and human rights, including by enhancing the provision of objective information through all relevant media, such as Radio Liberty and the internet. The Russian Government's suppression of dissent and political opposition, the limitations it has imposed on civil society and independent media, and the deterioration of economic and political freedom inside Russia are of profound concern to the United States Government and to the American people. SEC. 403. DEFINITIONS. In this title: (1) Admitted; alien.--The terms ``admitted'' and ``alien'' have the meanings given those terms in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101). (2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means-- (A) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Financial Services, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Homeland Security, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives; and (B) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate. (3) Financial institution.--The term ``financial institution'' has the meaning given that term in section 5312 of title 31, United States Code. (4) United states person.--The term ``United States person'' means-- (A) a United States citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence to the United States; or (B) an entity organized under the laws of the United States or of any jurisdiction within the United States, including a foreign branch of such an entity. SEC. 404. <<NOTE: Deadlines. President. Determinations.>> IDENTIFICA TION OF PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DETENTION, ABUSE, AND DEATH OF SERGEI MAGNITSKY AND OTHER GROSS VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS. (a) In <<NOTE: List.>> General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a list of each person who the President determines, based on credible information-- (1) is responsible for the detention, abuse, or death of Sergei Magnitsky, participated in efforts to conceal the legal liability for the detention, abuse, or death of Sergei Magnitsky, financially benefitted from the detention, abuse, or death of [[Page 126 STAT. 1506]] Sergei Magnitsky, or was involved in the criminal conspiracy uncovered by Sergei Magnitsky; (2) is responsible for extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights committed against individuals seeking-- (A) to expose illegal activity carried out by officials of the Government of the Russian Federation; or (B) to obtain, exercise, defend, or promote internationally recognized human rights and freedoms, such as the freedoms of religion, expression, association, and assembly, and the rights to a fair trial and democratic elections, in Russia; or (3) acted as an agent of or on behalf of a person in a matter relating to an activity described in paragraph (1) or (2). (b) Updates.--The President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an update of the list required by subsection (a) as new information becomes available. (c) Form.-- (1) In general.--The list required by subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form. (2) Exception.--The name of a person to be included in the list required by subsection (a) may be submitted in a classified annex only if the President-- (A) determines that it is vital for the national security interests of the United States to do so; (B) uses the annex in such a manner consistent with congressional intent and the purposes of this Act; and (C) 15 <<NOTE: Notice.>> days prior to submitting the name in a classified annex, provides to the appropriate congressional committees notice of, and a justification for, including or continuing to include each person in the classified annex despite any publicly available credible information indicating that the person engaged in an activity described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of subsection (a). (3) Consideration of data from other countries and nongovernmental organizations.--In preparing the list required by subsection (a), the President shall consider information provided by the chairperson and ranking member of each of the appropriate congressional committees and credible data obtained by other countries and nongovernmental organizations, including organizations inside Russia, that monitor the human rights abuses of the Government of the Russian Federation. (4) Public <<NOTE: Federal Register, publication.>> availability.--The unclassified portion of the list required by subsection (a) shall be made available to the public and published in the Federal Register. (d) Removal From List.--A person may be removed from the list required by subsection (a) if the President determines and reports to the appropriate congressional committees not less than 15 days prior to the removal of the person from the list that-- (1) credible information exists that the person did not engage in the activity for which the person was added to the list; (2) the person has been prosecuted appropriately for the activity in which the person engaged; or [[Page 126 STAT. 1507]] (3) the person has credibly demonstrated a significant change in behavior, has paid an appropriate consequence for the activities in which the person engaged, and has credibly committed to not engage in the types of activities specified in paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a). (e) Requests by Chairperson and Ranking Member of Appropriate Congressional Committees.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after receiving a written request from the chairperson and ranking member of one of the appropriate congressional committees with respect to whether a person meets the criteria for being added to the list required by subsection (a), the President shall submit a response to the chairperson and ranking member of the committee which made the request with respect to the status of the person. (2) Form.--The President may submit a response required by paragraph (1) in classified form if the President determines that it is necessary for the national security interests of the United States to do so. (3) Removal.--If the President removes from the list required by subsection (a) a person who has been placed on the list at the request of the chairperson and ranking member of one of the appropriate congressional committees, the President shall provide the chairperson and ranking member with any information that contributed to the removal decision. The President may submit such information in classified form if the President determines that such is necessary for the national security interests of the United States. (f) Nonapplicability <<NOTE: Publication.>> of Confidentiality Requirement With Respect to Visa Records.--The President shall publish the list required by subsection (a) without regard to the requirements of section 222(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1202(f)) with respect to confidentiality of records pertaining to the issuance or refusal of visas or permits to enter the United States. SEC. 405. INADMISSIBILITY OF CERTAIN ALIENS. (a) Ineligibility for Visas.--An alien is ineligible to receive a visa to enter the United States and ineligible to be admitted to the United States if the alien is on the list required by section 404(a). (b) Current Visas Revoked.--The Secretary of State shall revoke, in accordance with section 221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(i)), the visa or other documentation of any alien who would be ineligible to receive such a visa or documentation under subsection (a) of this section. (c) Waiver for National Security Interests.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary of State may waive the application of subsection (a) or (b) in the case of an alien if-- (A) the <<NOTE: Determination.>> Secretary determines that such a waiver-- (i) is necessary to permit the United States to comply with the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, signed June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947, or other applicable international obligations of the United States; or [[Page 126 STAT. 1508]] (ii) is in the national security interests of the United States; and (B) prior <<NOTE: Notice.>> to granting such a waiver, the Secretary provides to the appropriate congressional committees notice of, and a justification for, the waiver. (2) Timing <<NOTE: Deadline.>> for certain waivers.-- Notification under subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) shall be made not later than 15 days prior to granting a waiver under such paragraph if the Secretary grants such waiver in the national security interests of the United States in accordance with subparagraph (A)(ii) of such paragraph. (d) Regulatory Authority.--The Secretary of State shall prescribe such regulations as are necessary to carry out this section. SEC. 406. FINANCIAL MEASURES. (a) <<NOTE: President.>> Freezing of Assets.-- (1) In general.--The President shall exercise all powers granted by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (except that the requirements of section 202 of such Act (50 U.S.C. 1701) shall not apply) to the extent necessary to freeze and prohibit all transactions in all property and interests in property of a person who is on the list required by section 404(a) of this Act if such property and interests in property are in the United States, come within the United States, or are or come within the possession or control of a United States person. (2) <<NOTE: Determination.>> Exception.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to persons included on the classified annex under section 404(c)(2) if the President determines that such an exception is vital for the national security interests of the United States. (b) Waiver <<NOTE: Determination.>> for National Security Interests.--The Secretary of the Treasury may waive the application of subsection (a) if the Secretary determines that such a waiver is in the national security interests of the United <<NOTE: Deadline. Notice.>> States. Not less than 15 days prior to granting such a waiver, the Secretary shall provide to the appropriate congressional committees notice of, and a justification for, the waiver. (c) Enforcement.-- (1) Penalties.--A person that violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of this section or any regulation, license, or order issued to carry out this section shall be subject to the penalties set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) to the same extent as a person that commits an unlawful act described in subsection (a) of such section. (2) Requirements <<NOTE: Deadline. Regulations. Certification.>> for financial institutions.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe or amend regulations as needed to require each financial institution that is a United States person and has within its possession or control assets that are property or interests in property of a person who is on the list required by section 404(a) if such property and interests in property are in the United States to certify to the Secretary that, to the best of the knowledge of the financial institution, the financial institution has frozen all [[Page 126 STAT. 1509]] assets within the possession or control of the financial institution that are required to be frozen pursuant to subsection (a). (d) Regulatory Authority.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall issue such regulations, licenses, and orders as are necessary to carry out this section. SEC. 407. REPORT TO CONGRESS. Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on-- (1) the actions taken to carry out this title, including-- (A) the number of persons added to or removed from the list required by section 404(a) during the year preceding the report, the dates on which such persons have been added or removed, and the reasons for adding or removing them; and (B) if few or no such persons have been added to that list during that year, the reasons for not adding more such persons to the list; and (2) efforts by the executive branch to encourage the governments of other countries to impose sanctions that are similar to the sanctions imposed under this title. Approved December 14, 2012. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 6156: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- HOUSE REPORTS: No. 112-632 (Comm. on Ways and Means). CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 158 (2012): Nov. 16, considered and passed House. Dec. 5, 6, considered and passed Senate. <all>