Report: Russian Lawyer Magnitsky Beaten to Death in Jail

Voice of America

A private investigation into the 2009 prison death of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky has concluded that he was beaten to death and denied medical treatment, and accuses the government of failing to prosecute those responsible.

The report by William Browder, founder of the British-based investment fund Hermitage Capital Management for which Magnitsky worked before his arrest, chronicled the developments in the case — from the alleged tax fraud he had exposed, to his prison torture and death following a severe beating by prison guards.

The report follows an investigation by members of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s human rights council, which concludes that Magnitsky’s death was caused by physical harm rather than negligence. The council also found that Magnitsky’s arrest and detention were unlawful, but denies any official wrongdoing.

Magnitsky was arrested in 2009 for what his supporters said were phony tax evasion charges. He died nearly a year later at the age of 37 after prison authorities withheld medical care and possible life-saving surgery.

Magnitsky accused Russian police officials of stealing Hermitage fund documents as part of a scheme to pocket hundreds of millions of dollars. Those same police officials arrested Magnitsky in 2009, charging him with tax evasion. He spent nearly a year in jail in poor health, denied the care that could possibly have saved his life.

Last month, Russia banned visits by certain U.S. officials in retaliation for Washington’s blacklisting of Russian officials allegedly involved in Magnitsky’s death. Russia’s Foreign Ministry said it is blacklisting unspecified U.S. officials Moscow says were involved in abductions of terrorism suspects, torture of inmates at Guantanamo prison, and killings of civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq.

U.S. law requires the State Department to deny visas to anyone accused of human rights violations, including torture.

Earlier this month, supporters around the world marked the second anniversary of Magnitsky’s death with a play, depicting his last moments. The U.S. State Department issued a statement honoring Magnitsky’s memory and accusing Russian officials of failing to bring to justice those responsible for his death. онлайн займы unshaven girl https://www.zp-pdl.com https://zp-pdl.com/apply-for-payday-loan-online.php займ на карту срочно без отказа