The Daily Telegraph

Russia accuses Putin critic of ordering prison murder

- By Matthew Bodner in Moscow

RUSSIAN prosecutor­s yesterday accused Bill Browder, a prominent critic of Vladimir Putin, of ordering the murder of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky and several other business associates – the latest in a string of efforts to discredit one of the most vocal advocates of sanctions against the regime.

Magnitsky, a lawyer who worked for Mr Browder, a financier, was arrested in 2008 after uncovering evidence of large-scale tax fraud among Russian officials. He died a year later in a Moscow prison, where he complained of abuse and was reportedly denied medical treatment.

Mr Browder, once an early supporter of Mr Putin, has since lobbied tirelessly for sanctions against the Russian president and his entourage.

Mr Browder, the British head of investment fund Hermitage Capital Management, branded the accusation­s “Kafka-esque”. Writing on social media, he cast them as a vendetta waged by Mr Putin in reaction to his lobbying, which in 2012 led to US sanctions on Russia in what is widely known as the Magnitsky Act.

“I really struck a nerve with the Magnitsky Act,” Mr Browder said.

The accusation­s come as Interpol, an internatio­nal body for coordinati­ng national police efforts, meets this week to elect a new president.

A report published by The Sunday Times said a Russian interior ministry official is expected to win, sparking concern that Moscow may use the organisati­on to target critics and dissidents residing beyond Russian police jurisdicti­on.

“Russia has made seven abusive attempts to have me arrested since 2013 on politicall­y motivated charges,” Mr Browder told Newsweek.

“If Russia is allowed to take over Interpol, it is like the Mafia taking over global law enforcemen­t.”

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