MOSCOW, December 30 (RAPSI) - In the future, the US intends to expand the Magnitsky List, a human rights abuse sanction roster established against Russian officials in 2009, RIA Novosti reports on Tuesday citing the US State Department.

Currently, the list of individuals allegedly involved in the criminal conspiracy uncovered by Sergei Magnitsky, individuals responsible for Magnitsky’s detention, abuse, or death and other human rights abuses contains 34 names.

The Magnitsky List named in memory of Sergei Magnitsky, an auditor at Hermitage Capital who died in a Moscow detention facility, was first published by the US Department of the Treasury in April 2013. The measure imposes travel and economic restrictions on Russians involved – as US legislators believe – in human rights violation.

On Monday, four more names of Russian officials were included on the Magnitsky List – specifically, Deputy Interior Minister of Chechnya Apti Alaudinov and Chief of Staff of the Chechen Head and Government Magomed Daudov. Personal sanctions were also applied to Deputy Prosecutor General Viktor Grinya and Russian Investigative Committee investigator Andrei Strizhov.

During a short briefing promptly organized by teleconference, aspokesperson for the White House refused to speculate as to how many people could be included on the Magnitsky List in the future, adding that there is no specific quota but that they would continue to use the list in response to Russia’s actions. Expanding the list could indirectly influence the situation with human rights violations in Russia.

It was made clear from the beginning that the list of 18 names was not final and could be expanded. Congress receives reports annually suggesting new candidates.