Russian Investigative Committee Rejects President’s Human Rights Council Report in its Investigation of Tax Officials Exposed by Sergei Magnitsky

December 3, 2012

The Russian Investigative Committee has rejected the Russian President’s Human Rights Council’s report on the corruption uncovered by Sergei Magnitsky in their investigation into the illegal tax refunds approved by the Moscow tax inspection No 28, which led to the theft of $230 million from the Russian government. The refusal was issued by S. Olkhovnikov, senior official of the Russian Investigative Committee.
“The high-level government cover up of the theft of $230 million from the Russian government and the death of Sergei Magnitsky continues shamelessly and unabated. The corrupt officials behind this crime are so powerful and enjoy such impunity that they can publicly reject findings under the auspices of the President of Russia without any consequences,” said a Hermitage Capital representative.
The President’s Human Rights Council report published on July 5th 2011, specifically opined on the role that government officials played in the stealing the 5.4 Billion rubles ($230 million) and the subsequent cover-up and sabotage of the investigations. The report said: “The working group registers the facts of the sabotage in the investigation and interference with the investigation on the part of the officials involved in the investigation of the case on the illegal re-registration of Rilend, Parfenion and Makhaon and the illegal refund of 5.4 billion rubles of taxes which was made after that.”
In the same action of rejecting the Human Rights Council report, the Investigative Committee also refused to recognise Sergei Magnitsky’s relatives as victims preventing their access to the case files and ability to challenge the lack of progress in the investigation. In his application, a representative for the family sought for the family to be recognised as victims on the grounds that the co-conspirators of the thefts were involved in the retaliation against Sergei Magnitsky, which led to his death in state custody in November 2009.
Sergei Magnitsky died in Russian police custody in November 2009. Three years later not a single official responsible for his arrest or the frauds he had uncovered has been brought to justice. A global campaign seeking justice has been launched around the world given the impunity of the officials involved in the arrest, torture and death of Magnitsky and the massive corruption he had uncovered in Russia.

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