By Alexandra Sandacz
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe
MOSCOW, Russia – The Russian government assigned the Anti-Terrorist Department of the Russian Interior Ministry to search for Hermitage CEO, William Browder. Browder is charged with illegally obtaining $70 million of stock in the energy company, Gazprom.
General Major Sergei Borodulin of the Russian Interior Ministry commenced the latest sanctions against Mr. Browder. He is the same Russian official who authorized the opening of a posthumous criminal case against Sergei Magnitsky.
Despite the fact that this particular case has no legal foundation because the Gazprom shares were in fact purchased in open market transactions, a Moscow court issued an arrest warrant in absentia for the former Browder. The court accepted the arguments that Browder may influence witnesses or obstruct the criminal inquiry. As a result, Browder should be arrested to prevent such actions.
The court also supported the assertion Browder is actually currently hiding from Russian law enforcement agencies.
This will be the first case in Russian history where a foreign investor is “retroactively and arbitrarily” charged for conducting legal transactions.
Lt. Colonel A.K. Gubanov of the Anti-Terrorist Department visited the second secretary of the British embassy in Moscow “searching” for Browder. Gubanov’s search disregarded diplomatic protocol and legal procedures for police searches and mutual legal assistance requests.
Gubanov and another Russian police officer, Major P.I. Tambovtsev, requested that the British diplomat sign a Russian Interior Ministry procedure. However, the British diplomat declined to do so.
G.R. Sungurov, head of the 4th section of the Russian Interior Ministry’s Investigation Department, who is in charge of fighting organized crime and corruption, coordinated the latest search efforts for Browder.
A Hermitage Capital representative stated, “The misuse of the anti terrorist police in pursuing a political vendetta in relation to the Magnitsky Act shows how desperate the Russian authorities have become to try to protect their bank accounts and travel privileges. By the Russian government diverting their most important anti terrorist personnel at this sensitive time for private corrupt purposes is a clear sign of a complete breakdown in the law enforcement system in Russia.”
The warrant will have a very insignificant effect on Browder and his business relationships. Hermitage Capital’s interactions in Russia were minimized after Browder was barred from entering Russia in 2006.
For further information, please see:
Law and Order In Russia – Russian Government Employs Anti-Terrorist Unit to Search for Hermitage CEO in Retaliation for the US Magnitsky Act – 22 April 2013
RFE/RL – Moscow Seeks Arrest of Late Magnitsky’s Boss – 22 April 2013
Russia Beyond the Headlines – Moscow Court Orders Arrest of Magnitsky Boss Browder – 22 April 2013
The Voice of Russia – Russia Seeks Arrest of Late Magnitsky’s US-Born Boss – 22 April 2013
