American-born Putin critic allowed into America, after being temporarily blocked

WASHINGTON An American-born traveller being allowed to enter America isn’t usually news — unless that American is a bitter foe of Vladmir Putin, accused of crimes by the Russian leader, placed on an international police watch list, and barred from his native country.

Bill Browder is that natural-born American.

Born in the U.S.A., he found himself temporarily blocked by the U.S.A., in a bizarre ordeal that revealed the sensitivity of his cause against the Russian government, which hit a new peak following the adoption of a Canadian law that piqued Putin.

In a case with international repercussions, Browder was told late Monday he would be allowed into his native America. Now a British citizen, Browder said he had been placed on an international police watch list and blocked from a flight to the U.S., and he accused the Russian government of being behind it.

He celebrated his apparent reprieve late Monday. Browder tweeted: “GREAT NEWS! My ... (US visa waiver) was restored. I successfully checked into a U.S. flight. Now we need to fix bogus Interpol arrest warrant.”

The drama started after he successfully lobbied Canada to become the latest country to adopt a so-called Magnitsky law that targets corrupt officials of the Putin regime. He accused the Russian government of retaliating by placing his name on an Interpol watch list.

“United (Airlines) wouldn’t let me board a flight,” Browder tweeted earlier Monday. “Unless Interpol lifts this notice, I will be arrested at any international border I cross on Putin’s orders.”