US senators introduce bill to sanction Turkish officials over detentions

Two US senators, Roger Wicker and Ben Cardin, have introduced a bipartisan bill which would require the imposition of sanctions (travel bans and asset freezing measures) on Turkish officials responsible for the “false imprisonment of American and Turkish citizens employed by the United States in Turkey”. See Press Release.

Sen. Cardin added that officials “must be held accountable under Global Magnitsky standards for their ongoing injustices”. In 2018, two Turkish officials were added to the Magnitsky sanctions lists over the detention of US pastor Andrew Brunson, and de-listed on his release, see previous post.