MOSCOW, October 5 (Itar-Tass) — Moscow will enact the principle of reciprocity in its conflict with Britain over the British authorities' reported decision to impose a ban on entry to the UK by a number of Russian officials allegedly involved in the controvsial case for the death of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, a Moscow-based staff member of the Hermitage Capital Management hedge fund, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in an official commentary on the situation.
"We've paid attention to mass media reports aon a decision the British government ostensibly took regarding a ban on entry to the country by the officials connected with the Magnitsky case," the commentary said. "We requested explanations from the British side and heard in response that the authorities of the United Kingdom consider the issuance of visas on an individual basis and do not comment on the decisions taken in this connection."
The ministry stressed its intention to continue watching closely the British government's moves in the sphere, it said.
"We proceed from the unacceptability of the situations where the rights of Russian citizens are infringed on because of an arbitrary interpretation of some or other facts," the commentary indicated.
It recalled that the practice of relations between countries hinges on the principle of reciprocity.