MOSCOW, October 31 - RAPSI. The Canadian parliament considers a draft law proposing visa sanctions against the Russian officials involved in the case of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky and allegedly responsible for his arrest and death, the parliament reported on its official web site.

The Hermitage Capital fund lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, was charged with tax evasion and died in a pre-trial detention center in Moscow on November 16, 2009. He had spent roughly one year in detention. Magnitsky's death incited a major public uproar and forced the Russian authorities to amend criminal laws and to reshuffle management of the punishment execution system.

The parliament started considering the draft law aimed to slam corruption in Russia and impunity in relation to Magnitsky case on October 28. If the parliament approves it, the officials allegedly involved in the case along with their relatives will be banned from visiting Canada.

The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned last December the resolution of the Canadian parliament's subcommittee on human rights which proposed imposing visa and financial sanctions on the Russian officials responsible for Magnitsky's death.

The ministry also said the resolution is aimed to bring pressure on the investigation and interfere into domestic affairs of another country.