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U.S. Imposes New Sanctions on 12 Russians U.S. Imposes New Sanctions on 12 Russians
(about 1 hour later)
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration on Tuesday leveled sanctions against 12 Russians for human rights abuses including the detention and death of a celebrated lawyer who the United States says sought to expose fraud by Russian officials.WASHINGTON — The Obama administration on Tuesday leveled sanctions against 12 Russians for human rights abuses including the detention and death of a celebrated lawyer who the United States says sought to expose fraud by Russian officials.
 The sanctions were announced under a 2012 law named for the lawyer, Sergei L. Magnitsky, who died in detention in November 2009 and whose case has become a symbol of human rights abuses in Russia. The sanctions were announced under a 2012 law named for the lawyer, Sergei L. Magnitsky, who died in detention in November 2009 and whose case has become a symbol of human rights abuses in Russia.
The United States imposed sanctions on 18 Russians under the Magnitsky Act in April 2013, and American lawmakers and human rights activists had expected the Obama administration to add to that list in December. The United States imposed sanctions on 18 Russians under the Magnitsky Act in April 2013, and American lawmakers and human rights activists had expected the Obama administration to add to that list in December. 
Administration officials were more tight-lipped about the sanctions imposed on Tuesday than they had been about those made this year in response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and to the crisis in Ukraine. In contrast to Ukraine-related announcement, the Obama administration did not hold conference calls with reporters. Representative Ed Royce, the California Republican who is chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee, described Tuesday’s announcement as “a long overdue step in fulfilling the Magnitsky Act requirements.”
Ten of the individuals named on Tuesday were linked to the Magnitsky case, the Treasury Department said. They include Larisa Litvinova, Dmitry Kratov and Alexandra Gauss, three doctors who worked at detention centers who “withheld appropriate medical care” for Mr. Magnitsky, according to the department. The department also imposed sanctions on Igor B. Alisov, a Russian judge who oversaw the posthumous trial of Mr. Magnitsky for tax evasion.  Ten of the individuals named on Tuesday were linked to the Magnitsky case, the Treasury Department said. They include Larisa Litvinova, Dmitry Kratov and Alexandra Gauss, three doctors who worked at detention centers who “withheld appropriate medical care” for Mr. Magnitsky, according to the department. The department also imposed sanctions on Igor B. Alisov, a Russian judge who oversaw the posthumous trial of Mr. Magnitsky for tax evasion.  
The Treasury Department also cited four individuals it said were involved in the “criminal conspiracy” uncovered by Mr. Magnitsky.The Treasury Department also cited four individuals it said were involved in the “criminal conspiracy” uncovered by Mr. Magnitsky.
The sanctions include a freeze on any assets the people might have in the United States and a ban on travel visas.The sanctions include a freeze on any assets the people might have in the United States and a ban on travel visas.
David J. Kramer, the president of Freedom House, a human rights group, said the White House had resisted in December expanding the list of individuals under sanctions because the move would have come at a time when the Obama administration was still seeking to maintain a good working relationship with the Kremlin. David J. Kramer, the president of Freedom House, a human rights group, said the White House had resisted in December expanding the list of individuals under sanctions because the move would have come before the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, and at a time when the Obama administration was still seeking to maintain a good working relationship with the Kremlin, including the negotiation of a possible trade agreement.
Despite the delay, Mr. Kramer said that he was “rather pleased with the list.”Despite the delay, Mr. Kramer said that he was “rather pleased with the list.”
Jen Psaki, the State Department spokeswoman, denied that there had been a delay. “We add new names to the list as credible information becomes available,” she said in a statement.Jen Psaki, the State Department spokeswoman, denied that there had been a delay. “We add new names to the list as credible information becomes available,” she said in a statement.
 In addition to the 12 individuals named Tuesday, Mr. Kramer said that he had heard that Aleksandr I. Bastrykin, a close aide to President Vladimir V. Putin, was on a classified list of individuals that had been under Magnitsky Act sanctions. Administration officials declined to comment on suggestions that Mr. Bastrykin was on such a list. In addition to the 12 individuals named Tuesday, Mr. Kramer said that he had heard that Aleksandr I. Bastrykin, a close aide to President Vladimir V. Putin, was on a classified list of individuals that had been under Magnitsky Act sanctions. Administration officials declined to comment on suggestions that Mr. Bastrykin was on such a list.
 Mr. Magnitsky died in pretrial detention in Moscow when he was 37.  He was found guilty of tax evasion at his posthumous trial. Mr. Magnitsky died in pretrial detention in Moscow when he was 37.  He was found guilty of tax evasion at his posthumous trial.