Magnitsky’s Brother-In-Law is Summoned for Questioning at Russia’s Interior Ministry

February 27, 2013

In a further escalation of intimidation and pressure on Sergei Magnitsky’s family and colleagues, the Russian Interior Ministry is now summoning Sergei Magnitsky’s brother-in-law, Andrei Zharikov, for questioning today. The summons was issued by Interior Ministry Investigator P. Tambovtsev (office phone stated in notice: +7495 667 39 08).

Mr Magnitsky’s brother-in-law was asked to “show up for questioning,” with no further explanation, at Investigator Tambovtsev’s office in the Interior Ministry’s Investigations Committee, at Gazetny Pereulok in Moscow. This is the same building where Mr Magnitsky was brought for questioning more than four years ago, on 24 November 2008, and from where he never left a free man.

Investigator Tambovtsev was recently brought on to the investigation team on the criminal case posthumously accusing Mr Magnitsky of the $230 million fraud, which Magnitsky had uncovered and exposed himself, and ultimately led to his murder in police custody in 2009. All complaints from Mr. Magnitsky’s mother seeking to cease this fabricated posthumous accusation have been rejected by the Russian authorities. The most recent rejection was sent to the family by Investigator Tambovtsev.

“The complaint you submitted on 24.12.2012 …has been considered in accordance with the order stipulated by the law and it has been refused,” wrote Investigator Tambovtsev to lawyer Nikolai Gorokhov who represents Mr Magnitsky’s mother.

“Having tortured Sergei to death in 2009 and prosecuting him after he died, the Interior Ministry feels such impunity that it has now started going after his relatives and colleagues,” said a Hermitage Capital representative.

The recent aggressive activity of the Interior Ministry follows directly from the 20th of December 2012 promise by Russian President Putin to personally “delve deeper” into the Magnitsky case.

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