The Russian response to the U.S. travel ban on Russian officials allegedly linked to the death of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky contains the same number of names, 11, a top Russian diplomat said on Thursday.
"We have our own list, which is in force. It comprises 11 people, just like the U.S. blacklist," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said.
He did not name the officials on the list, but said they were linked to the notorious U.S. Guantanamo prison.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said last week the Russian blacklist was longer.
Magnitsky was arrested and jailed without trial in November 2008, and died in police custody a year later after being denied medical care. The 37-year-old lawyer was working for Hermitage Capital Management, a British-based investment fund, when he accused tax and police officials of carrying out a $230-million tax scam.
In July 2011, the U.S. State Department banned visas for about 60 Russian officials over their involvement in the detention and death of Magnitsky.
