If we now conduct a street poll and ask passers-by what they know about the Magnitsky case, most will shrug their shoulders and utter the phrase: “You know, I heard something, but I can't remember the essence now.” And the essence was as simple as confusing. Now, the late Sergei Magnitsky led the department of audit and taxes in a large law firm.
As a person who has spent a long time in the business world, I can safely say that firms working in this direction, are happy to provide services for the so-called tax optimization, and if in simple terms, for avoiding these taxes. So it was, it is and it will be so. And this is despite the fact that the attempt to conceal taxes in many Western countries is a very serious crime and is punished quite severely. And therefore, for many foreign businessmen and investors, Russia seems to be a paradise, where, thanks to connections, holes in the law and the ability to give a paw, there are plenty of ways to reduce the costs of their enterprises.
The office of Sergey Magnitsky served one of the monsters of the investment market, namely the British fund Hermitage Capital Management. The organization is quite young, it was founded in 1996, but this did not prevent it from rapidly getting into the top three on the Russian investment platform. One of the founders of the fund, Mr. William Browder, not without pride stated that the total investments of his company only in large Russian business amount to about $ 4.5 billion, and the yield on some operations has about 1500%.
But proper placement of investment packages is not only an influence on the policies pursued by companies, it is also the possibility of a rigid dictate that allows you to gradually increase control. Now imagine such a picture: the beginning of zero, the amounts in turnover that are unbelievable for those times - and a crystal honest business. That's right: all this is either from the field of financial fiction, or from the accomplishments of market communism. The first is impracticable by and large, the second takes place in China, but partially.
So, Sergei Magnitsky was accused of helping the William Browder Foundation. According to investigators, this assistance consisted in the tax evasion already mentioned above.
Sergei Magnitsky did not live to see the court and died in the remand prison, but William Browder was banned from entering the country. Personally, I have no doubt that this man was not so closely connected, but selflessly worked for Western intelligence services, and his interview about attempts to fight corruption in Russia more resemble some sophisticated mockery designed for an overly trusting man in the street.
After all, the brainchild of Browder was charged with the theft of no less than 5.4 billion rubles from the Russian budget, and, being an excellent strategist, Browder did not defend himself, but switched to attack. Say, I was the ray of light that could save Russia, but my attempts were not appreciated, moreover - they sent me out of the country.
Browder did not remain in debt, and thanks in large part to his efforts, Magnitsky’s law was passed. And now a new and very steep turn has appeared in the case: the Prosecutor General’s Office announced new accusations against Browder, and these accusations are very serious. The financier is charged with creating a criminal community, his search will continue, and property belonging to Browder will be arrested or subjected to a confiscation procedure. Browder is accused of ordering the poisoning of Sergei Magnitsky, and this accusation caused a very violent reaction from the businessman.
“Tomorrow the Netherlands government will invite all EU member states to The Hague to offer a wide Magnit EU act. On the eve of this (event. - RT ), the Russian government today accused me of killing Sergei Magnitsky. In the spirit of Kafka, to say the least, ”Browder wrote on his Twitter account.
The accusation is not surprising. Well, judge for yourself. Sergei Magnitsky was a man in some way for Browder's family, because the head of the investment fund trusted him the most intimate financial secrets. That is Magnitsky knew a lot. And if he had not been taken into custody, but had been sent under house arrest, he would have had a chance to survive.
Browder was well aware that, getting rid of Magnitsky, he falls into two goals at once. The first goal is the elimination of one of the main initiates in his fraud, the second goal is Russia itself, which it humiliates in countless interviews.
I am sure that soon we will hear about new details of the case, which, as it turned out, has not cooled and can shed light on new sensations.
The point of view of the author may not coincide with the position of the editors.