Minister of Justice Sergiu Litvinenco said the intense discussions in society about the Magnitsky Law are welcome. According to the official, the bill will not be adopted until a consensus is reached in society and the bill meets all the international standards. American experts will help agree the final version of the bill, IPN reports.

Since the draft Magnitsky Law was made public, it has been intensely criticized by jurists who said that the document institutes repressive actions against the own citizens. According to jurists, the provisions of the Magnitsky Law that was adopted by the U.S in 2012 apply only to foreigners, not yet to the own citizens.

“We made public the draft law and it is good that it is discussed. We hear critical opinions and also positive opinions. The draft is at the stage of consultations and there is time until a final decision is taken. In the U.S., the law does not ban the imposition of sanctions on American citizens. In the UK, a similar law allows sanctions also for British citizens. Until a final decision is taken, we will be consulted by experts from the U.S. to which we sent the bill and are waiting for a response. The sanctions there include a freeze of assets, not yet confiscation,” Sergiu Litvinenco stated in the talk show “Secrets of the Power” on JurnalTV channel.

The draft designed by the Ministry of Justice enables the Audiovisual Council to withdraw the broadcast license if a TV channel promotes the image of individuals or of persons affiliated to these who were put on the sanctions list. Sergiu Litivenco said the opinion of the Audiovisual Council on the issue is also awaited.

“The law will be adopted in a formula that will meet the international standards. The bill is at the stage of consultations and we are waiting for the Audiovisual Council’s opinion on it. The draft law provides that if the TV channel belongs to a person who is on the sanctions list, the Audiovisual Council has the right to withdraw the broadcast license of this. This is also possible when the channel intensely promotes this person and things are ascertained in accordance with the media legislation,” stated the minister.

The draft Magnitsky Law says all those who will be put on the sanctions list will have their assets owned in Moldova frozen and will be unable to sell, donate or transfer these to other persons. If the bill is adopted in the current formula, the persons on the sanctions list will be banned from opening bank accounts, transferring money or raising loans.