Bill Browder’s Red Notice Hits the UK Sunday Time’s Best Seller List

February 20, 2015

February 20, 2015 – ‘Red Notice,’ a non-fiction thriller by justice campaigner Bill Browder, hit ‘The Sunday Times’ best-seller list in the first week since the book’s launch.

‘Red Notice’ is an unputdownable account of the rise and fall in fortune of a Westerner, once the largest international investor in Russia, and a look under the hood of the massive corruption of Vladimir Putin’s regime. The book is told through the story of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who was tortured and killed in Russian police custody after testifying about a $230 million government corruption scam.

The Sunday Times list reflects weekly book sales in the UK. ‘Red Notice’ has gained the No 9 position on this week’s Sunday Times list, which will be published on Sunday, February 22nd. It means that the book has become an instant best-seller in Britain.

“The reason I wrote the book is so that people could see for themselves what has happened to me and to Sergei Magnitsky when we tried to expose Russian government corruption. I wrote it in a style that both those interested in Russia and those who are not would find it easily accessible and interesting. It exceeds my best hopes to get such amazing feedback from my readers,” said Bill Browder.

This success in the UK follows ‘Red Notice’ becoming a best-seller in the US, where it has now been on ‘The New York Times’ best-seller list for the second week since its launch.

‘Red Notice’ has received rave reviews from celebrities and ordinary readers alike.

Playwright Tom Stoppard said: “The story of Sergei Magnitsky’s life and death is?a shocking true-life thriller, and Bill Browder was the man to write it.”

Reviewers on amazon.co.uk said:

“It reads like a legal and political thriller, a historical novel and true crime story all in one and I would recommend to everyone who is old enough to read to buy or download to their kindle and can guarantee you will be hooked before you reach the 3rd chapter.”

“It is the clearest, most fact-dense, heart-breaking and heartfelt account of grotesque, systematic and unrelenting criminality, at the highest levels of the government of a country, Russia, whose leaders brazenly demand the world’s respect while continuing to break the world’s laws.”

The book has also received glowing reviews in the global media:

“An unburdening, a witness statement and a thriller all that the same time … Electrifying … One heck of a read.” – The Times

“[Browder’s] freewheeling, snappy book describes the meteoric rise, and disastrous fall, of a buccaneer capitalist who crossed the wrong people and paid a steep price. . . The high stakes make for a zesty tale” – New York Times

“A sizzling accountof Mr Browder’s rise, fall and metamorphosis from bombastic financier to renowned human-rights activist … Readsmore like a financial thriller than a real-life story” – The Economist

“A tale that makes the dirty dealings of House of Cards look like Snow White.” – Toronto Star

‘Red Notice’ was published by Random House and released in the UK on 5 February 2015.

Triple bombing in Libya kills dozens

February 20, 2015

By Ashley Repp

News Desk Reporter- Africa

al-Qubbah- Libya

Earlier this week, following the release of a gruesome video that showed the beheading of 20 Egyptian Coptic Christians, and one non-Christian, Egypt launched air strikes in and near the city of Derna. The strikes targeted training camps and arms caches in the city. Groups affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIL) have claimed responsibility for the video, and called the beheaded Coptic Christians, ‘crusaders.’

Following these are strikes, Islamic State affiliate groups vowed revenge for the attacks on Derna. On Friday, Islamic State affiliate groups carried out a triple attack on the eastern city of al-Qubbah. One of the apparent targets of the attack was the parliament speaker of the internationally recognized parliament of Libya, Aguila Salah. Medical personnel assert that Salah was not home at the time of the attack. The two other bombings in the triple strike included a police station, as well as a gas station. The majority of those killed in these attacks were waiting in line at the gas station. Over 30 people have died, although a source quoted by Reuters asserts that the death toll is nearer to 40 and over 70 injured.

Libya plunged into chaos following the ousting of Col. Moammar Kadafi in 2011. Since that time, factions have waged war with one another in an effort to gain control over Libya. No one group has gained significant traction. ISIL has sought to capitalize on the instability and violence that currently racks Libya, in an effort to gain traction in Africa. While it is not a group that currently predominates in Libya, recent events have begun to establish the Islamic State as a very real actor in the game in Libya. Egypt has become increasingly alarmed by the rate at which the Islamic State has been gaining support in Libya, as Egypt is currently fighting another Islamic State affiliate group in the Sinai Peninsula.

For more information, please visit:

ABC News- Triple bombings kill at least 25 in eastern Libya, medics say– 20 Feb., 2015

Al Jazeera- Deaths in car bombings in east Libya city– 20 Feb., 2015

LA Times- Bomb attacks in Libya kill at least 34– 20 Feb., 2015

BBC News- Libya Violence: Bombs kill dozens in al-Qubbah– 20 Feb., 2015

Female suicide bomber kills nearly a dozen in Nigerian city; wounds over thirty others

February 20, 2015

By Ashley Repp

News Desk Reporter- Africa

Damaturu, Nigeria-

This past Sunday afternoon, a female bomber, who witnesses assert looked about sixteen years of age, arrived at the city’s crowded market area in a car, and made her way into the crowds. Local time was about 1 P.M., a busy shopping time on Sundays. The unidentified female went to a crowded area, positioned herself, and then detonated the bomb that she was wearing underneath her clothes. With this detonation, the bomber killed at least ten people, and wounded over thirty others in the surrounding area.

Witnesses say that after the bomb was detonated, the crowd at the market descended into panic. Authorities were unable to collect and remove the remains of the female bomber, as a crowd had begun to collect her body parts and light them on fire.

Though no one has claimed responsibility for the attack, Sunday’s bombing bears what some say are the “hallmarks” of a Boko Haram attack. In the past year, Boko Haram, the Islamic militant group that wishes to install an Islamic state in Nigeria, has increasingly used female bombers to carry out planned attacks. This attack shares many of the similarities of the previous attacks carried out this year, leading authorities to suspect Boko Haram’s involvement.

Boko Haram has played a key role in destabilizing northern Nigeria with the intent of establishing an Islamic state. The group has launched previous attacks on Damaturu. Currently, the violence has begun to spill over into neighboring countries, including Chad, Cameroon, and Niger. These states, along with Nigeria, have agreed to establish a regional military apparatus that will serve to combat and subdue Boko Haram.

The violence and instability have also pushed officials in Nigeria to postpone the presidential election until March 28^th, 2015. Many Nigerians, investors, as well as states in the international community question President Goodluck’s ability to adequately address and combat Boko Haram, and fear that further instability is likely to arise. Goodluck’s rival in the presidential election is Muhammadu Buhari. Many believe that he will take a harder line on security issues, and is better equipped to address the threat of Boko Haram due to his successful quelling of an Islamic uprising in the 1980’s.

For more information, please visit:

BBC News- Suicide bomber kills seven in Nigerian city of Damaturu– 15 Feb., 2015

Al Jazeera- Female suicide bomber kills ten in Nigeria’s Damaturu-15 Feb., 2015

The New York Times- Female suicide bomber kills ten in a Nigerian region racked by Islamist violence– 15 Feb., 2015

Reuters- Female suicide bomber kills ten in Nigerian bus station– 15 Feb., 2015

Control of Yemen Split Amongst Non-State Groups

February 19, 2015

By Max Bartels

Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

Sanna, Yemen

Yemen is in a state of chaos, Shiite rebels, Al-Qaeda and government forces and other groups compete for control of the country. The chaos has been exacerbated since Shiite militants, known as Houthi rebels seized key government buildings, kidnapped the President’s Chief-of-Staff and surrounded the presidential mansion. In response, the President, Prime Minister and cabinet have stepped down leaving the Houthi’s with control of the capital and the majority of its infrastructure. The Houthi’s represent the Shiite minority of Yemen, which is a predominantly Sunni nation.

Houthi Rebels celebrate outside the Presidential Palace in Sanna (Photo curtesy of Reuters)

Concerns over the chaos and in fighting in Yemen stretch far beyond its borders, the U.S and European Allies are very concerned over who could end up in power. The former government of Yemen was one of the U.S’s top Middle Eastern Allies in the fight against AL-Qaeda. The concern is also very real in Europe after the Paris attacks were claimed by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which is based in Yemen. Even though most of the unrest has been attributed to the Houthi militant group AL-Qaeda has also struck out against government assets and military institutions. A statement by the news media liaison for Al-Qaeda claimed that the group had captured an entire Yemeni National Army brigade and seized control of an important oil-producing region in Southeastern Yemen.

There are a few other major players in the power struggle beside the Houthis and Al-Qaeda. The others include the Muslim Brotherhood, in the form of a political group called the Al Islah Party. The party is Sunni and is in opposition to the Houthi movement. The other major player is ISIS, leader al-Baghdadi has called on Yemeni Sunnis to resist the Shiite Houthi rebels. ISIS is also looking to outshine Al-Qaeda and become the dominant group.

The U.N has also expressed concern over the unrest in Yemen; Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has stated that Yemen is essentially collapsing before our eyes. The Security Council has issued a resolution demanding that the Houthis step aside and relinquish control of all government institutions. The resolution also approved an emergency council meeting, which allowed the resolution to be enforced by military force.

For more information, please see:

CNN — U.N Security Council Slams Houthi Rebels Takeover in Yemen — 16 February 2015

The New York Times — U.N Warns that Yemen as Al-Qaeda Fighters Make Big Gains — 12 February 2015

CNN — Who’s in Charge in Yemen? — 23 January 2015

Al Jazeera — UN Security Council Demands Houthis Step Aside in Yemen — 16 February 2015

Colombian FARC Rebels to Discharge Fighters Under 15

February 18, 2015

By Delisa Morris

Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BOGOTA, Colombia — Last week during negotiations, the FARC, Colombia’s largest rebel group, agreed to stop recruiting soldiers under 17. This week news comes that the FARC will discharge any child soldiers under the age of 15. The group has said to have captured children as young as 13 to join their ranks.

Children in FARC rebel group / photo courtesy of colombianrefugeeproject

The leader, Ivan Marquez, told a radio program that the recruitment of children was “not our policy”. Marquez said there are currently 13 children under the age of 15 fighting with the Marxist group.

Marquez, who is one of the FARC negotiators at peace talks in the Cuban capital, Havana, told Colombian’s Caracol Radio that “after internal consultation with the guerrilla structures across the country, the Farc leadership could determine there were only 13 fighters younger than 15” in its ranks.

He said they would be “discharged from the war within a short period of time”.

According to Marquez, the children are descendants of guerrilla fighters or had joined the FARC after they had been orphaned. Though human rights groups have long accused the FARC of forcibly recruiting children.

Figures released by Colombia’s Ministry of Defence suggest that since 2002 more than 2,600 children under the age of 18 have left the Farc, either fleeing the group or being captured by security forces.

Although a majority were between the ages of 16 and 17, figures suggest more than one third of the child soldiers were younger.

The peace talks between the FARC and the Colombian government have commenced in November 2012.

They have reached partial agreements on a number of issues, including on the drugs trade, land reform and political participation.

They are currently discussing the rights of victims of the five-decade-long conflict, which has killed more than 220,000 people.

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Colombian Farc rebels ‘will discharge fighters under 15’ – 17 Feb. 2015

tele sur – FARC Discharges Under 15s to Comply with International Law – 18 Feb. 2015

Latin American Herald Tribune – Colombia’s FARC to Discharge Minors Under 15 – 18 Feb. 2015

Latin Post – Colombia and Farc Peace Talks, Conflicts, History & News: Rebels to Discharge Child Soldiers Younger Than 15 – 17 Feb. 2015