Russia's Foreign Ministry on February 2 announced travel bans on five U.S. law enforcement officials in retaliation for a similar action by Washington.
The move comes a day after the U.S. Treasury Department added five Russians to its so-called "Magnitsky List," which now sanctions 39 alleged human rights abusers linked to the death of whistleblowing Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky.
Magnitsky was working as a tax lawyer for a Western-owned portfolio investment company in Russia when he discovered a $230 million fraud scheme involving shell companies and bogus tax refunds.
He was later arrested by Russian authorities, charged with similar fraud charges, and jailed.
His supporters say he was tortured and denied medical treatment, leading to his 2009 death in prison.
The Kremlin said on February 2 that the U.S. expansion of its Magnitsky List was a setback for bilateral relations.
