The US Congress has passed a bill to normalize trade with Russia, which will also penalise Russian officials linked to human rights violations. The legislation passed by large majorities in the House and Senate. Under the bill, US would withhold visas and freeze financial assets of Russian officials thought to have been involved with human rights violations. In a statement, the Russian foreign ministry called the law a performance in the theatre of the absurd. Alexei Pushkov, the head of the lower house of parliament's international affairs committee, told news agency Itar-Tass that Moscow could pass a corresponding law. The bill will now go to President Barack Obama to sign.