The European Parliament's delegation for relations with Russia called on Wednesday for an asset freeze and visa ban for Russian officials linked to the high-profile death of whistle-blowing lawyer Sergei Magnitsky in 2009.
In a statement, the Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee urged EU member states to "start immediate procedures to enact measures such as an EU-wide travel ban and a freeze on the financial assets of those believed to be guilty of the torture and death of Sergei Magnitsky as well as of covering up the case."
It also said it disapproved of the "prolonging of the investigation process" into the causes of Magnitsky's death and hailed the United States and Netherlands for imposing visa bans on some 60 Russian officials linked to Magnitsky's jailing and death.
Russia has responded in kind, but neither country has actually implemented the bans so far.
Magnitsky was jailed in November 2008 after exposing a $230 million tax scam involving Russian officials. The Kremlin’s rights body said in a report in July last year the 37-year-old suffered deliberate neglect and beatings before dying in his cell a year later.
Two prison doctors were charged over Magnitsky's death in August last year.
Prosecutors later re-launched a criminal investigation against Magnitsky, sparking outrage among his family and rights groups.
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