The True Story of Money Laundering, Murder, and Surviving Vladimir Putin's Wrath

In the annals of international crime, the story of Sergei Magnitsky stands as a chilling tale of money laundering, murder, and the lengths to which the Russian government will go to silence its critics.

Freezing Order: A True Story of Money Laundering, Murder, and Surviving Vladimir Putin's Wrath

by Bill Browder

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	23681 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	332 pages

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Magnitsky was a Russian lawyer who was hired by Hermitage Capital Management, a London-based investment fund, to investigate a massive tax fraud scheme. The scheme involved the theft of $230 million from the Russian treasury by corrupt tax officials and organized crime figures.

Magnitsky's investigation quickly uncovered the identities of the criminals involved in the scheme. However, when he tried to report his findings to the authorities, he was arrested and charged with the very crimes he was investigating.

Magnitsky was held in pre-trial detention for 11 months, during which time he was subjected to torture and abuse. He was denied medical care and was eventually beaten to death in prison.

Magnitsky's death sparked international outrage and led to the passage of the Magnitsky Act, a U.S. law that imposes sanctions on Russian officials involved in his death and other human rights abuses.

The story of Sergei Magnitsky is a tragic example of the dangers of speaking out against corruption in Russia. It is also a story of hope, as Magnitsky's death helped to bring about the Magnitsky Act, which has been used to punish Russian officials for human rights abuses.

The Money Laundering Scheme

The money laundering scheme that Magnitsky uncovered was complex and involved multiple layers of shell companies and offshore accounts. The scheme was designed to hide the true ownership of the stolen funds and make it difficult to trace.

The funds were first transferred from the Russian treasury to a shell company in Cyprus. The shell company then transferred the funds to another shell company in the British Virgin Islands. The funds were then transferred to a bank account in Switzerland.

The money laundering scheme was orchestrated by a group of corrupt tax officials and organized crime figures. The officials used their positions to authorize the fraudulent tax refunds, while the organized crime figures provided the muscle to intimidate anyone who tried to interfere.

Magnitsky's Investigation

Magnitsky was hired by Hermitage Capital Management to investigate the money laundering scheme after the company discovered that it had been defrauded of $230 million. Magnitsky quickly uncovered the identities of the criminals involved in the scheme.

Magnitsky's investigation was based on a detailed analysis of financial records and interviews with witnesses. He was able to trace the stolen funds from the Russian treasury to the offshore accounts in Cyprus, the British Virgin Islands, and Switzerland.

Magnitsky's findings were presented to the Russian authorities, but they refused to take action. Magnitsky was then arrested and charged with the very crimes he was investigating.

Magnitsky's Death

Magnitsky was held in pre-trial detention for 11 months, during which time he was subjected to torture and abuse. He was denied medical care and was eventually beaten to death in prison.

The Russian authorities claimed that Magnitsky died of natural causes, but an independent investigation found that he had been beaten to death.

Magnitsky's death sparked international outrage and led to the passage of the Magnitsky Act, a U.S. law that imposes sanctions on Russian officials involved in his death and other human rights abuses.

The Magnitsky Act

The Magnitsky Act is a U.S. law that imposes sanctions on Russian officials involved in the death of Sergei Magnitsky and other human rights abuses.

The act was passed in 2012 and has been expanded several times since then. The act currently targets over 100 Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin.

The Magnitsky Act has been criticized by the Russian government, which claims that it is a violation of international law. However, the act has been praised by human rights groups, which say that it is an important step in holding Russian officials accountable for human rights abuses.

The story of Sergei Magnitsky is a tragic example of the dangers of speaking out against corruption in Russia. It is also a story of hope, as Magnitsky's death helped to bring about the Magnitsky Act, which has been used to punish Russian officials for human rights abuses.

The Magnitsky Act is a powerful tool that can be used to hold Russian officials accountable for their crimes. However, it is important to remember that the act is only one step in the fight against corruption in Russia.

Ultimately, it will be up to the Russian people to demand an end to corruption and human rights abuses in their country.

Additional Resources

• Hermitage Capital Management
• The Magnitsky Act
• Human Rights First

Freezing Order: A True Story of Money Laundering, Murder, and Surviving Vladimir Putin's Wrath

by Bill Browder

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	23681 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	332 pages

FREE