Investigation into the Death of Sergey Magnitskiy Must be Public

November 24, 2009

PRESS RELEASE

Investigation into the Death of Sergey Magnitskiy Must be Public

24 November 2009 – Today, President Medvedev announced an investigation into the death of anti-corruption lawyer, Sergey Magnitskiy, who died in suspicious circumstances at a Moscow prison. Mr Magnitskiy was arrested and persecuted by Russian Interior Ministry officials, against whom he had testified about their involvement in large scale corruption.

“Sergey Magnitskiy’s death is a tragedy that has touched everyone,” said William Browder, CEO of Hermitage Capital. “Sergey Magnitskiy gave his life for the ideals he believed in. He was a brave and honourable man who believed in the rule of law in Russia. It is everyone’s responsibility to make sure that the same tragedy can never be repeated. Until today, there has been a complete cover up of the crimes by police officials Sergey exposed, indicating there will be great pressure to cover up the circumstances leading to his death. The investigation into his death must be carried out openly, publicly and transparently. ”

Jamison Firestone, head of the law firm where Mr Magnitskiy worked said: “Over 35 complaints have been submitted regarding police participation in the theft from the budget which Sergey Magnitskiy uncovered and reported. In each case these complaints have been investigated by the very same Interior Ministry officials who were involved in the crimes and who later arrested Magnitskiy.  The same cover up should not be allowed to occur with President Medvedev’s investigation. The perpetrators of state theft uncovered by Sergey Magnitskiy are the same people who are responsible for his death and they must be brought to justice.”

On 18 November, Sergey’s lawyers requested the Prosecutor’s Office to open an investigation into his death. For five days no action was taken. Sergey’s lawyers are concerned that in the meantime crucial evidence regarding the circumstances leading to his death may have been destroyed. An indication of this is that many hand-written diaries and notes, kept by Sergey in prison have already gone missing.

Sergey Magnitskiy had been detained on fabricated charges without trial for a year and died on 16 November 2009.

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