18/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - Setting up a Magnitsky list. On 18 March, MEPs from the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee called on the Council for a visa ban and assets freeze in the EU of 32 Russian officials suspected of being responsible for the torture and death of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who died in custody in 2009, and for the harassment of his mother and widow, or involved in Magnitsky's posthumous trial. In the resolution by Kristiina Ojuland (ALDE, Estonia), which the committee adopted, MEPs criticise the fact that, despite the Parliament's request in October 2012, the issue has not been included on the Council's agenda by High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton. These sanctions require unanimity from the Council. MEPs also call on Russia to close Magnitsky's posthumous trial and to investigate his death seriously. This resolution could be put to the vote in the plenary session in April. (CG)