Businessman Linked to Magnitsky Embezzlement Case Gets Minimum Sentence

The Moscow Times

A man linked to the multibillion-ruble embezzlement scheme that late lawyer Sergei Magnitsky tried to expose was handed a minimum sentence — and not asked to pay anything back.

Vyacheslav Khlebnikov, who the Investigative Committee said in January is a businessman with a criminal record, was sentenced to five years in prison for embezzlement, Magnitsky’s former employer, Hermitage Capital, said in an e-mailed statement.

Khlebnikov pleaded guilty, allowing Moscow’s Tverskoi District Court to fast-track his closed process and not examine any evidence.

Hermitage demanded the trial to be open and evidence be considered as it could expose other people involved in the case, but the court ignored these requests.

Contrary to regular practice in embezzlement cases, the state did sue Khlebnikov for damages, the report said, adding that his alleged accomplice Viktor Markelov, a “sawmill worker,” received similar leniency at another closed trial earlier.

Repeated calls to the court’s press office went unanswered Wednesday.

Magnitsky claimed Khlebnikov was involved in a scheme established by Interior Ministry officers who swindled away 5.4 billion rubles ($190 million) from the federal budget. Khlebnikov was likely a low-ranking pawn in the scheme, Hermitage said Wednesday.

But Hermitage was itself hit with tax claims, which the fund said were fabricated by the exposed officials. Magnitsky was arrested and died in pretrial detention in 2009 of health problems. His supporters claim that he was intentionally denied treatment.

Khlebnikov testified against Hermitage in November, Interfax reported Wednesday, without elaborating. займ на карту быстрые займы на карту https://www.zp-pdl.com https://zp-pdl.com/get-quick-online-payday-loan-now.php онлайн займ