WASHINGTON, September 7 - RAPSI. Republican US presidential candidate Mitt Romney believes that in order for normal trade relations with Russia to be restored and for the Jackson-Vanik amendment withdrawn, the Magnitsky list bill must be adopted at the same time, according to a statement by Romney Campaign Advisor Lahnee Chen.

Chen also accused President Barak Obama of pandering to Russia and attempting to obstruct the adoption of the bill.

This statement is in line with the Republican platform, which holds that Russia deserves normal trade relations with the United States, but not without visa sanctions against officials who violated human rights.

Many congressmen and senators are determined to use the need to lift trade restrictions to ensure a swift adoption of visa and financial sanctions against the Russian nationals who are believed to be involved in the death of Sergei Magnitsky, an auditor for Hermitage Capital Management investment fund, who passed away while in pre-trial detention in 2009.

They have stated that they would support granting Russia normal trade relations only if the Magnitsky act was passed at the same time.

The Jackson-Vanik amendment was adopted by Congress in 1974 and imposed restrictions on trade with the Soviet Union. The amendment was a response to the lack of freedom to emigrate from the Soviet Union. At moment, the amendment is still formally valid, however, since 1989, the United States has annually placed a moratorium on it and the current administration has repeatedly promised to secure its official withdrawal.

The U.S. presidential and congressional elections will both be held on November 6.