The PJ Tatler

The Russian Kleptocracy File: Bank Records and Real Estate

For a crash course in what ails Russia, turn to the spectacular April 18 story by Barron’s Bill Alpert, on “Crime and Punishment in Putin’s Russia.” Alpert follows the money trails surfacing in the horrendous story surrounding the death in prison of a Moscow lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky — after he testified about corrupt involvement of Russian officials in a $230 million case of tax fraud. Alpert reports that almost all of the $230 million is still missing. He adds that a Russian government spokesperson, “told Barron’s on Tuesday that all the bank records police needed in order to trace the loot were in a truck that crashed and exploded in 2008.”

Some claim otherwise. As Barron’s also reports, Magnitsky’s former client, Bill Browder, chief of Hermitage Capital, has been trying to unravel the truth of the case — an effort, I would add, that requires no small measure of courage on Browder’s part. You can read about it on the web site Stop the Untouchables: Justice for Sergei Magnitsky. The latest video connected with this effort, now on youtube, gives quite a panorama of the real estate and bank records allegedly involved in this drama, from Russia to Dubai, Switzerland, Cyprus and Montenegro. Worth watching.

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2 Comments, 2 Threads, 1 Trackbacks

1. Ben

he West have made much to help Putin to become today`s Putin: transformation of seven into eight,the gas consumption yoke have been put on happily,orange revolutions have been sold and appeasement continues. The feeble cries about Russian regime`s crimes looks strange.

April 17, 2011 - 8:09 am Link to this Comment
2. Kathy Kinsley

Yeah, and in this case, our ex-President Bush probably IS liable.

“I will answer the question. I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy. We had a very good dialogue. I was able to get a sense of his soul; a man deeply committed to his country and the best interests of his country. And I appreciated so very much the frank dialogue.”

If he really DID understand Putin, he was seriously remiss in not defending against him.

April 17, 2011 - 4:53 pm Link to this Comment