Russian Opposition Urges U.S. to End Cold War Trade Sanctions

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/13/world/europe/russian-opposition-urges-united-states-to-end-trade-sanctions.html?hp

Prominent organizers of antigovernment demonstrations in Moscow urged the United States Congress on Monday to end cold-war-era trade restrictions against Russia, saying that leaving them in place would only help President-elect Vladimir V. Putin.

The statement by the opposition organizations seemed intended to bolster an effort by the Obama administration and Democratic Congressional leaders to establish permanent normal trade relations before Russia’s formal entry into the World Trade Organization later this year.