US sanctions 12 more Russians over lawyer’s death

Washington, May 22 (IANS) The US has sanctioned 12 more Russians for their alleged links to the death of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky.

The Department of Treasury said these people are denied US visas, their assets under US jurisdiction are frozen and American citizens are barred from doing business with them, Xinhua reported Tuesday, adding that it also said four prison officials and a judge are among those targeted.

Magnitsky was arrested in November 2008 and died in prison a year later. The Russian authorities closed his case in March 2013, saying no evidence had pointed to his death being caused deliberately.

US President Barack Obama signed the so-called Magnitsky Act in December 2012, imposing sanctions on Russian officials allegedly responsible for the 37-year-old lawyer’s death.

Russia retaliated by passing the Anti-Magnitsky Act in January 2013, barring US citizens from adopting Russian orphans and banning Americans suspected of human rights violations from entering Russia.