A similar law to the United States’ Magnitsky Act – which allows courts to impose visa bans and asset freezes on Russian officials – is being discussed in the UK. The US law is named after Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who was allegedly tortured to death in 2009 by Russian prison guards after spending almost a year behind bars without a trial. In the US, the Magnitsky Act can be used against anyone accused of human rights abuses. British lawmakers are debating a law that would allow courts to impose visa bans and asset freezes on Russian officials who abuse human rights.