Sergei Magnitsky’s Mother Demands Answers from Russia’s General Prosecutor Chaika About False Statements Against Her Son
December 22, 2015
Sergei Magnitsky’s Mother Demands Answers from Russia’s General Prosecutor Chaika About False Statements Against Her Son
Yuri Chaika
22 December 2015 – Sergei Magnitsky’s mother has demanded answers from Russian General prosecutor Chaika over his hysterical letter containing false information about Sergei Magnitsky published last week in Russian newspaper Kommersant. Chaika’s letter was a response to Russian blogger Alexei Navalny’s explosive video about the corruption and abuse of office involving Chaika’s two sons and senior prosecutors in the country.
In Chaika’s14 December 2015 letter to Kommersant, he claimed that Sergei Magnitsky had never investigated the $230 million theft from the Russian budget.
In Sergei Magnitsky’s mother’s application to the General Prosecutor’s office which was filed at the end of last week, she refuted Chaika’s false statements and placed the responsibility on Chaika himself for the cover up of the $230 million theft and its perpetrators implicated by Sergei Magnitsky in sworn testimony.
“The information you have disseminated inflicts pain on a mother who lost her son, it is not based on facts, it has not been corroborated by courts, and it is refuted by documents, including the criminal case files about Magnitsky’s death,” said Ms. Magnitskaya to Prosecutor Chaika.
“Thanks to Sergei Magnitsky’s investigation which he conducted on instruction from his client – the Hermitage Fund – the theft of 5.4 billion rubles [$230 million] was uncovered, and reported to you on 25 July 2008 in an application seeking to investigate the fraud and prosecute its perpetrators. In response your senior aid Bumazhkin replied that the investigation had been terminated …due to the lack of crime. Your aid also reported that the outcomes of this investigation were under control of the General Prosecutor’s Office,” said the application from Ms. Magnitskaya.
“It follows that under the control and with knowledge of the Russian General Prosecutor’s Office headed by you, perpetrators who committed a grandiose theft of 5.4 billion rubles from the budget, remained for a long time free, had opportunity to destroy evidence of their crime and continue it unhindered through laundering the proceeds stolen from the Russian people via bank wire transfers,” said Ms. Magnitskaya’s application.
Sergei Magnitsky’s mother’s application asks Chaika whether the information he had disseminated was his personal opinion, or his official conclusion as General prosecutor of Russia tasked by Russian president to personally oversee all cases connected to Sergei Magnitsky. The reply from Prosecutor Chaika to Magnitsky’s mother application is yet not known.
For more information please contact:
Justice for Sergei Magnitsky
+44 207 440 1777
e-mail: info@lawandorderinrussia.org
Twitter: @KatieFisher__
www.facebook.com/russianuntouchables
New York Federal Court Disqualifies Lawyer John Moscow and BakerHostetler in Magnitsky Money Laundering Case
December 21, 2015
New York Federal Court Disqualifies Lawyer John Moscow and BakerHostetler in Magnitsky Money Laundering Case
21 December 2015 – The federal court in New York has disqualified lawyer John Moscow and his firm, BakerHostetler, who represented the alleged Russian recipients of money laundering proceeds from the US$230 million Russian fraud that Sergei Magnitsky uncovered, in a civil forfeiture case brought by the US Department of Justice. The case alleges money laundering of proceeds of Russian fraud into multi-million dollar Manhattan real estate by Prevezon, a company owned by a son of former Vice-premier of the Moscow Region and the current Vice-president of Russian Railways Pyotr Katsyv.
John Moscow and BakerHostetler had originally worked for Hermitage in 2008 to defend Hermitage against unfounded accusations relating to the fraud, including (among other projects) by tracking the stolen US$230 million and its recipients, and bringing the evidence of this complex Russian fraud which victimised Hermitage, to the US Department of Justice. On Hermitage’s behalf, John Moscow personally presented the findings from the Hermitage’s and Sergei Magnitsky’s investigations of the $230 million fraud to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
On 25 November 2008, one day after Sergei Magnitsky’s arrest by corrupt Russian officials on false charges, John Moscow also became involved in Hermitage’s legal actions to free Sergei Magnitsky from Russian detention. Prior to his arrest, Sergei Magnitsky gave testimony to Russian authorities implicating Russian officials in the theft of Hermitage’s Russian companies and of US$230 million the Hermitage’s companies had paid to the Russian government.
One year later, on 16 November 2009, Sergei Magnitsky was killed in Russian police custody before he could testify in an open trial.
In 2013, John Moscow and BakerHostetler switched sides, and went from representing Hermitage to representing Russian-owned Prevezon, an alleged beneficiary of the US$230 million fraud, that Sergei Magnitsky’s investigation had led to after his death. The US Department of Justice has traced to Prevezon nearly US$2 million of the US$230 million fraud proceeds and more funds in false and questionable transactions. The US court has frozen about US$14 million in Prevezon’s assets, including bank accounts and several Manhattan properties.
In November 2015, John Moscow and BakerHostetler made filings on Prevezon’s behalf in which they explicitly accused Hermitage of committing the US$230 million fraud that they originally have been hired to defend against.
On 15 December 2015, Hermitage filed a motion to disqualify BakerHostetler and John Moscow.
In Judge Griesa’s opinion, issued on 18 December 2015, the U.S. Court for Southern District of New York ordered:
“The court is now convinced that it would be improper for BakerHostetler and Moscow to continue as counsel to defendants. …Hermitage’s motion to disqualify BakerHostetler and Moscow as counsel to defendants is granted.”
Hermitage Capital’s representative said of the disqualification of John Moscow and BakerHostetler:
“This disqualification is a stark reminder that lawyers can’t switch sides just because there is money being offered to them.”
Under Rule 1.9 of the New York Rule of Professional Conduct, lawyers are not allowed to betray their former clients. In particular, the rule says:
“A lawyer who has formerly represented a client in a matter shall not thereafter represent another person in the same or a substantially related matter in which that person’s interests are materially adverse to the interests of the former client unless the former client gives informed consent, confirmed in writing.”
Hermitage became the victim of the US$230 million fraud in 2007 when a Russian criminal organisation, comprising FSB, Interior Ministry and tax officials and headed by a convicted fraudster Dmitry Klyuev, raided offices of Hermitage and its law firm in Moscow, unlawfully seized statutory and financial documents for its corporate Russian subsidiaries. Using those documents, the Russian crime group forged contracts and powers of attorney, fraudulently re-registered the stolen Hermitage companies to felons previously convicted for violent crimes, and through sham court proceedings obtained about US$1 billion judgments against the stolen Hermitage companies, in order to claim US$230 million in purportedly “overpaid” taxes.
The fraudulent US$230 million tax refund was granted by Russian tax officials, who were members of the crime group, in one day, and paid out two days later to two small Russian banks, where fraudsters had opened bank accounts, and then laundered through Russian banks and around the world.
Through efforts of Hermitage and law enforcement authorities around the world, about US$40 million connected to the US$230 million fraud uncovered by Sergei Magnitsky have been identified and frozen.
BakerHostetler is an “Am Law 100 law firm” with more than 900 attorneys and 14 offices. John Moscow is a former New York prosecutor and a partner at Baker Hostetler.
For more information please contact:
Justice for Sergei Magnitsky
+44 207 440 1777
e-mail: info@lawandorderinrussia.org
Twitter: @KatieFisher__
www.facebook.com/russianuntouchables
Суд Нью-Йорка отстранил юристов компании Дениса Кацыва в связи с нарушением адвокатского кодекса в деле об отмывании средств от раскрытого Сергеем Магнитским преступления
December 21, 2015
Суд Нью-Йорка отстранил юристов компании Дениса Кацыва в связи с нарушением адвокатского кодекса в деле об отмывании средств от раскрытого Сергеем Магнитским преступления
21 декабря 2015 года – Федеральный суд Нью-Йорка отстранил юридическую фирму “БэйкерХостетлер” и ее сотрудника Джона Москоу от участия в судебном процессе на стороне кипрской компании “Превезон”, принадлежащей сыну российского чиновника Денису Кацыву.
Суд нашел, что юридическая фирма “БэйкерХостетлер” и ее партнер Джон Москоу нарушили адвокатский кодекс, выступив на стороне “Превезон” Дениса Кацыва после того, как ранее эти же адвокаты выступали на стороне Hermitage, выполняя ряд юридических задач, в том числе оказывали правовую помощь в поисках лиц, получивших доходы от хищения 5,4 миллиардов рублей, и защите Hermitageот сфабрикованных российскими чиновниками обвинений.
“Превезон” подозревается прокуратурой США в легализации 5,4 миллиардов рублей, похищенных у российских налогоплательщиков в ходе преступления, раскрытого Сергеем Магнитским.
Действуя на нынешнем процессе в интересах “Превезон”, “БэйкерХостетлер” подала заявление, в котором повторила обвинения российских чиновников против Hermitage.
В связи с этим Hermitage была подана жалоба в суд США. 18 декабря 2015 года после внимательного изучения федеральный суд Нью-Йорка принял решение отстранить “БэйкерХостетлер” и Джона Москоу от дальнейшего участия в процессе.
“Суд теперь убежден, что продолжение деятельности “БэйкерХостетлер” и адвоката Москоу в качестве адвокатов ответчиков будет неправильным… Ходатайство Hermitage об отстранении “БэйкерХостетлер” и Москоу в качестве адвокатов ответчиков подлежит удовлетворению”, – говорится в решении суда южного округа штата Нью-Йорк.
Компания “Превезон” обвиняется прокуратурой США в отмывании средств через покупку недвижимости в Нью-Йорке. Хищение средств из российского бюджета было раскрыто Сергеем Магнитским в ходе расследования им хищения у его клиента – фонда Hermitage – трех компаний той же группой чиновников и криминальных элементов.
В 2008 году Hermitageнанял юридическую фирму “БэйкерХостетлер” и ее партнера Джона Москоу для поиска получателей похищенных из бюджета 5,4 миллиардов рублей.
В конце 2008 года Джон Москоу по поручению Hermitage передал в прокуратуру США первые результаты расследования Сергея Магнитского и Hermitage о деятельности преступной группы, включающей российских чиновников, похитившей миллиарды из госказны и легализовавшей их через международную банковскую систему.
25 ноября 2008 года, на второй день после ареста Сергея Магнитского Джон Москоу также стал участвовать в правовой защите Сергея Магнитского от сфабрикованных обвинений.
Однако в 2013 году Джон Москоу и юридическая фирма “БэйкерХостетлер” согласились представлять интересы компании Дениса Кацыва, обвиняемой в отмывании денег, полученных от кражи компаний Hermitage и 5,4 миллиардов рублей уплаченных компаниями Hermitageналогов.
Свод правил профессиональной этики юристов Нью-Йорка запрещает им действовать против интересов своих бывших клиентов, за исключением случаев предварительного письменного согласия со стороны последних. В частности, правило 1.9 профессионального поведения юристов Нью-Йорка гласит:
“Юрист, ранее представлявший клиента по делу не может впоследствии представлять иное лицо в том же или по существу связанном деле, в котором интересы этого лица материально противоположны интересам бывшего клиента, за исключением случаев, когда бывший клиент, информированный об этом, дает на это согласие, подтвержденное в письменном виде”.
Справка: Юридическая фирма “БэйкерХостетлер” – одна из ведущих фирм Нью-Йорка, основанная в 1916 году, со штатом в 900 адвокатов. У фирмы имеется 14 офисов в США. Джон Москоу – партнер “БэйкерХостетлер”, в прошлом – сотрудник прокуратуры США.
За дополнительной информацией обращайтесь:
Программа «Справедливость для Сергея Магнитского»
+44 207 440 1777
Cенат США одобрил Глобальный закон Магнитского
December 18, 2015
Cенат США одобрил Глобальный закон Магнитского
18 декабря 2015 года – Сенат США единогласно принял глобальный законопроект “Ответственность за права человека имени Сергея Магнитского”.
Новому законопроекту присвоен номер “S.284”. Законопроект принят в развитие закона Магнитского 2012 года, действие которого распространяется на нарушителей прав человека в России.
“Новый законопроект предполагает последствия для нарушителей прав человека по всему миру, а не только в России. То, что глобальный законопроект носит имя Сергея Магнитского, – это дань памяти россиянину, отдавшему жизнь за закон и право”, – сказал Уильям Браудер, автор книги “Красный циркуляр“.
Законопроект в Сенат был внесен сенатором Кардином, автором закона Сергея Магнитского 2012 года. Он был поддержан республиканцами и демократами.
Следующий шаг – голосование по глобальному законопроекту в Палате представителей США.
За дополнительной информацией обращайтесь:
Программа «Справедливость для Сергея Магнитского»
+44 207 440 1777
U.S. Senate Unanimously Passes the Global Magnitsky Act
December 18, 2015
U.S. Senate Unanimously Passes the Global Magnitsky Act
18 December 2015 – In a ground-breaking move, United States Senate unanimously passed the Global Magnitsky bill. The bill officially called, “S.284 – Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act”, directs the President to sanction human rights violators from anywhere around the world. The specific sanctions are visa bans, asset freezes, and public placement on the US Treasury’s OFAC registry.
“This is the new technology for fighting human rights abuse and an important legacy for Sergei Magnitsky who gave up his life fighting for the truth in Russia,” said Bill Browder, author of “Red Notice”, a book dedicated to Sergei Magnitsky.
In December 2012, the US Congress adopted the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act, which imposes visa and financial sanctions on violators of rights of human rights defenders in Russia.
The bill is named after Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian lawyer, who uncovered the largest publicly-known corruption case in Russia involving the theft of $230 million. Sergei Magnitsky testified about it naming complicit Russian officials. He was arrested by some of the implicated officials, held in pre-trial detention for 358 days, and killed in Russian police custody on 16 November 2009. After Sergei Magnitsky’s death, the Russian government promoted and honoured officials involved in his detention and death.
The Global Magnitsky bill was sponsored in the Senate by U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, and had 10 co-sponsors:
Sen Blumenthal, Richard [CT] – 1/28/2015
Sen Coons, Christopher A. [DE] – 7/23/2015
Sen Cruz, Ted [TX] – 2/25/2015
Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] – 1/28/2015
Sen Kirk, Mark Steven [IL] – 1/28/2015
Sen Markey, Edward J. [MA] – 1/28/2015
Sen McCain, John [AZ] – 1/28/2015
Sen Rubio, Marco [FL] – 1/28/2015
Sen Shaheen, Jeanne [NH] – 1/28/2015
Sen Wicker, Roger F. [MS] – 1/28/2015
The next step is for the House of Representatives to consider the bill.
For more information please contact:
Justice for Sergei Magnitsky
+44 207 440 1777
e-mail: info@lawandorderinrussia.org
Twitter: @KatieFisher__
www.facebook.com/russianuntouchables
For more information please visit