MOSCOW, March 19 (Xinhua) -- The criminal case over the death of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky was closed as no evidence has been found that it was caused deliberately, the Russian Investigative Committee (IC) said Tuesday.
"No objective evidences were found during a criminal investigation that any crime was committed against Magnitsky," the IC website said, adding the Hermitage Capital Management's 37-year-old lawyer died in detention of natural reasons.
"Neither special conditions were created for Magnitsky in detention, nor physical pressure or tortures were applied to him," it said.
Lawyers of Magnitsky family said they would appeal the IC's decision in a court.
Magnitsky was arrested in November 2008 and died in a prison a year later while under investigation of his alleged involvement into the company's tax fraud.
Death of the lawyer triggered a legal chain reaction in Russia-U.S. relations, with the U.S. Congress adopted the so-called Magnitsky Act which imposed visa bans and asset freezes on Russian officials allegedly responsible for the death.
Russia retaliated by the Anti-Magnitsky Act banning the U.S. citizens to adopt Russian orphans and denouncing a bilateral agreement on cooperation in children issues.
In addition to the adoption ban, Americans suspected of violation of human rights were banned from entering Russia. Besides, those having dual Russia-U.S. nationalities were prohibited from working in a non-governmental organization in Russia.
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