Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky died in a Moscow jail because he did not receive medical assistance in a timely fashion, Russian investigators announced on Monday.
"The experts identified deficiencies in the medical care given to Magnitsky during his detention, which have prevented timely diagnosis of his chronic illness," Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said. "In this regard, he was not provided with timely and appropriate treatment."
"In addition, no adequate treatment was provided on the evening of November 16, 2009," Markin said, referring to the night on which Magnitsky died of a heart attack aged 37 in a notorious Moscow pretrial detention center.
Markin added that these factors caused the death of the lawyer, who was working for the Hermitage Capital investment fund when he was arrested as part of an embezzlement and tax evasion investigation.
Magnitsky's lawyer Yelena Oreshnikova said that fact that the cause of the death had been established was a "positive element" in the investigation.
Those responsible for the death will be prosecuted in the near future, Markin said.
The names of those involved have not yet been revealed.
