// News and Releases
U.S. Department of Justice Files Case to Seize Over $23 Million in Manhattan Real Estate Connected to Magnitsky Case
September 11, 2013
U.S. Department of Justice Files Case to Seize Over $23 Million in Manhattan Real Estate Connected to Magnitsky Case
10 September 2013 – The United States Attorney’s Office in New York has filed a complaint to seize over $23 million in Manhattan property linked to the $230 million theft uncovered by Hermitage Fund’s Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky. The U.S. Attorney’s complaint seeks to further seize cash in connected bank accounts and impose civil money laundering penalties, according to documents filed today with the Manhattan Federal Court.
“This is the first action in the US to seize assets connected to the Magnitsky case, — said a Hermitage Capital representative. — It is a significant escalation in the campaign to bring justice for Sergei Magnitsky and his family. Sergei’s friends, colleagues and family will continue to pursue all the recipients of the blood money to make sure they are parted with the illicit proceeds, whoever and wherever they are.”
The complaint was filed by Preet Bharara, United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, on behalf of the United States Government, who is plaintiff in the action. According to the filing, the U.S. Government’s claims over the real estate and cash in New York arise out of the laundering of proceeds of a criminal enterprise in Russia.
“A Russian criminal organisation including corrupt Russian government officials defrauded Russian taxpayers of approximately 5.4 billion rubles, or US$230 million, through an elaborate tax refund fraud scheme,” says the complaint.
“In order to procure the refunds, the Organization fraudulently re-registered the Hermitage Companies in the names of members of the Organization, and then orchestrated sham lawsuits against these companies,” says the complaint. (more…)
Council of Europe’s Committee Approves Magnitsky Murder Report Despite Fierce Opposition from the Russian Delegation
September 4, 2013
Today, the Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has approved the report entitled “Refusing Impunity for the Killers of Sergei Magnitsky” (http://www.assembly.coe.int/Communication/20130904_ImpunityMagnitsky_EN.pdf). The report and a draft Resolution prepared by Rapporteur Andreas Gross, Swiss MP and member of the Socialist Group, were approved by all Committee members, except for 6.
At the previous Committee meeting on 25 June 2013 when the draft Magnitsky report was first released, the Committee agreed to give the Russian delegation more time and postponed the vote on the report until today’s meeting. Rapporteur Andreas Gross indicated that the information provided by the Russian officials during summer only confirmed his findings presented in June 2013 of a “massive cover-up” of the crime within the Russian government.
“My initial conclusion, namely that we are in the presence of a massive cover-up […], finds itself further consolidated,” said Rapporteur Gross in the addendum to the Report discussed by the Committee today. (more…)
Комитет ПАСЕ в Париже одобрил доклад о безнаказанности убийц Магнитского
September 4, 2013
Сегодня на заседании Комитета по правовым вопросам и правам человека ПАСЕ в Париже был одобрен доклад о безнаказанности убийц Сергея Магнитского в России (http://www.assembly.coe.int/Communication/20130904_ImpunityMagnitsky_EN.pdf). В котором содержится призыв к 47 странам-членам Совета Европы помочь в привлечении этих лиц к ответственности и расследовании раскрытого Магнитским хищения компаний его клиента и уплаченных ими 5,4 миллиардов рублей налогов. Сообщается, что доклад был одобрен подавляющим большинством голосов, только 6 депутатов проголосовали против его принятия. (more…)
Council of Europe’s Committee Will Debate How to Punish Sergei Magnitsky’s Killers
September 2, 2013
This Wednesday, 4 September 2013, between 9 am and 1 pm, the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), will consider a draft resolution entitled “Refusing Impunity for the Killers of Sergei Magnitsky” (http://www.assembly.coe.int/Communication/ajdoc24_2013.pdf). (more…)
Ситуацию с безнаказанностью убийц Сергея Магнитского рассмотрит Комитет по правовым вопросам и правам человека ПАСЕ в Париже
September 2, 2013
В среду, 4 сентября 2013 года, с 9 по 13 ч в Париже запланировано заседание Комитета по правовым вопросам и правам человека Парламентской ассамблеи Совета Европы (ПАСЕ). В повестке дня – рассмотрение проекта резолюции по докладу «Отказать в безнаказанности убийцам Сергея Магнитского» (http://www.assembly.coe.int/Communication/ajdoc24_2013.pdf; перевод на русский язык опубликован в «Новой газете» — http://en.novayagazeta.ru/politics/59011.html. (more…)