A "black list" of Russian officials allegedly linked to the death of lawyer Sergey Magnitsky in a pre-trial detention center in November 2009 is illegal and deceitful, chairman of the Russian council of judges Yury Sidorenko said on Saturday.
Magnitsky, who was defending British investment company Hermitage Capital Management against tax evasion charges, died aged 37 in a Moscow pretrial detention facility after being refused medical treatment for pancreatitis.
In November, the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee voted unanimously to ban entry to the EU for 60 officials allegedly tied to Magnitsky's death.
"It is full of nonsense and folly," Sidorenko said, referring to the notorious "black list." It had been discussed during the meeting with U.S. colleagues, that the EU's entry ban for state officials is inadmissible for the U.S. judiciary system, Sidorenko said.
Magnitsky's death triggered an international outcry amid concerns that his imprisonment could have been the result of official abuses.
Dmitry Kharitonov, Magnitsky's lawyer announced in mid-February that the investigation into his late client's death had been extended to May 17.
MOSCOW, March 5 (RIA Novosti)
