Stop the Untouchables. Justice for Sergei Magnitsky.

Bill Browder welcomes US action over Magnitsky death

BBC Business

A powerful group of US politicians has called for sanctions against Russians allegedly involved in a campaign against financier Bill Browder. Once one of Russia’s largest investors, he claims officials were complicit in a fraud against his firm and the death of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky.

Now Congressmen, including heavyweights Joe Lieberman and John McCain, propose banning the officials from the US.

Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev has promised a full inquiry into the death.

The US politicians are backing new legislation put before Congress on Friday, The Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2011.

In 2005, Mr Browder, who runs fund manager Hermitage Capital, was banned from Russia as a threat to national security after allegations that his firm evaded tax. But Mr Browder says his company was targeted in a $230m (£140m) fraud, and has mounted a strong campaign to uncover what happened to the money and Mr Magnitsky, Hermitage’s lawyer.