Changes

The '''Magnitsky Act of 2012''', commonly referred to as the '''Russian Sanctions bill''' is named for Serge Magnitsky, an investigator who was allegedly starved and murdered on the 357 day of a 365-day sentence while in a Russian prison. His employer, Bill Browder, is a billionaire global investor who beginning in the mid 1990s made very large investments in the [[Russian Federation]].<ref>With the collapse of the Soviet Union's [[command and control]] Soviet economy, economic enterprises were privatized and sold off, attracting outside foreign investment.</ref> Browder at one time was a good friend of Vladimir Putin. Browder renounced his U.S. citizenship in 1998 to avoid paying US taxes on large gains he made in Russia on the corpse of the Soviet's [[planned economy]], and became a UK citizen. Browder had invested about $230 million with Russian oligarchs, however by the 2010s suspected fraudulent accounting after sustaining massive losses. Browder sent Magnitsky to investigate, but instead was thrown in prison and accused of owing taxes for the company he represented which was trying to recover its losses.<ref>http://dailycaller.com/2017/07/10/senate-panel-to-hear-testimony-from-businessman-targeted-by-trump-dossier-firm/</ref>

The '''Magnitsky Act of 2012''', commonly referred to as the '''Russian Sanctions bill''' is named for Serge Magnitsky, an investigator who was allegedly starved and murdered on the 357 day of a 365-day sentence while in a Russian prison. His employer, Bill Browder, is a billionaire global investor who beginning in the mid 1990s made very large investments in the [[Russian Federation]].<ref>With the collapse of the Soviet Union's [[command and control]] Soviet economy, economic enterprises were privatized and sold off, attracting outside foreign investment.</ref>  

 

Browder at one time was a good friend of Vladimir Putin. Browder renounced his U.S. citizenship in 1998 to avoid paying US taxes on large gains he made in Russia on the corpse of the Soviet's [[planned economy]], and became a UK citizen. Browder had invested about $230 million with Russian oligarchs, however by the 2010s accused the Russians of fraudulent accounting after sustaining massive losses. Putin claimed Browder owed massive taxes after looting the  country.

 

Browder hired Magnitsky to investigate his losses, but Magnitsky was thrown in prison and accused of being part Browder's tax avoidance scheme.<ref>http://dailycaller.com/2017/07/10/senate-panel-to-hear-testimony-from-businessman-targeted-by-trump-dossier-firm/</ref>

Browder contacted Sen. [[John McCain]] with the story and a list of very powerful Russian oligarchs close to [[Vladimir Putin]] whom Browder accused of stealing his money. When the [[Ukrainian crisis|Crimean annexation]] occurred, McCain used Browder's list to create a "targeted sanctions" list of specific individuals, oligarchs, and businesses Browder accused of ripping off his money who now, by the Magnitsky Act, are blacklisted by all US citizens and businesses from doing business with until Browder's money is recovered. Among them is a company called Prevezon which figures prominently.

Browder contacted Sen. [[John McCain]] with the story and a list of very powerful Russian oligarchs close to [[Vladimir Putin]] whom Browder accused of stealing his money. When the [[Ukrainian crisis|Crimean annexation]] occurred, McCain used Browder's list to create a "targeted sanctions" list of specific individuals, oligarchs, and businesses Browder accused of ripping off his money who now, by the Magnitsky Act, are blacklisted by all US citizens and businesses from doing business with until Browder's money is recovered. Among them is a company called Prevezon which figures prominently.