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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 357th 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>

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 357th day of a 365-day sentence while in a Russian prison. His employer, Bill Browder, is a billionaire global investor who renouncef his U.S. citizenship in 1998 and became a [[UK]] to avoid paying US taxes. With the collapse of the Soviet [[economic planning|command and control economy]], bankrupt [[Soviet]] government economic enterprises were privatized and sold off, attracting much needed outside foreign investment. Browder made very large investments and was a close ally of [[Vladimir Putin]].

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 invested about $230 million in the new [[free market]] of the [[Russian Federation]], 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 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 Sens. [[John McCain]] and [[Ben Cardin][ with the story and a list of powerful Russian oligarchs close to 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. The Magnitsky Act blacklists these Russian individuals and entities from doing business with any American individuals  or entities until Browder's money is recovered. Among them is a company called Prevezon, a [[Manhattan]] real estate holding company with assets allegedly stolen from Browder.

 

[[Natalia Veselnitskaya]] is a Russian lawyer hired to represent Prevezon in an [[asset forfeiture]] settlement; while in the United States settling the case, Veselnitskaya was hired by [[FusionGPS]] to engage in unregisteted lobbying to repeal Russian sanctions  (the Magnitsky Act). Veselnitskaya also took part in an entrapment sting targeting Donald Trump, Jr., [[Jared Kushner]], and [[Paul Manafort]] conducted by FusionGPS and the [[FBI]], to frame the [[2016 Trump campaign]] as colluding with Russia to violate sanctions.

Throughout the Trump-Russia scandal the Magnitsky Act was used as a pretext to justify the Obama administration's illegal domestic spying on political opponents.

Throughout the Trump-Russia scandal the Magnitsky Act was used as a pretext to justify the Obama administration's illegal domestic spying on political opponents.