Czech government to debate Czech version of Magnitsky Act in June

The Czech government is soon to debate new draft legislation, inspired by the so-called Magnitsky Act approved by the US in 2016, which should allow the country to better implement sanctions against Russia, Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský told journalists on Monday. The foreign minister said the invasion of Ukraine had speeded up work on the draft law and it should be ready for debate in the cabinet by June. The law, which is being prepared by several governmental departments,  should enable the state authorities to freeze Russian-owned assets without being dependant on EU sanctions. Currently there is no real legal tool with which the Czech Republic could sanction a foreign entity on the basis of domestic demand.