This book is a follow-on to the author’s bestseller Red Notice (Simon & Schuster, 2017). The current and serious war between Russia and Ukraine (Spring 2022) makes this book particularly relevant. What makes Browder so unique as author is that he has a truly unusual and first-hand experience of how Russia is managed from the top.
The book deals with many of the same issues that were discussed in his previous book, but now presented as useful follow-on input. The author, a successful equity investor, was the largest foreign investor in Russia until early this century. He was then also actively pursuing various money laundering schemes, particularly ones that involved tax evasion scams where funds were diverted out of Russia through a myriad of foreign banks.
One particular such scheme was an attempt by several Russian criminals, all having positions within the Russian government, to sift off USD230 million that technically belonged to a Russian steel manufacturer, having been paid by Mr. Browder’s firm, Hermitage, as taxes owed on stock speculations that the firm had done involving the firm’s stocks (totally legal, of course). These funds had de facto belonged to the Russian government. Mr. Sergei Magnitsky, who worked for the author, exposed much of these illegalities. He was soon imprisoned, and subsequently beaten to death. The Red Notice book discusses all of this.
Mr. Browder and several other Russian advisors followed up when Magnitsky’s life was cut short. This turned out to be a complex path of moves, including legal advisors, government legislation, murder, as well as several attempts on Mr. Browder’s security. This book provides a telling narrative of all of this. It is becoming entirely evident that the Russian government, under Putin’s leadership, seems to shy very little when it comes to backing these types of criminal acts.
So, in addition to sharing with us how the Magnitsky Act was adopted in around 30 countries, the US being the first, the book also discusses how the USD230 million was embezzled, by whom in the Russian hierarchy, and how the Russian authorities attempted to fight this, including going after Browder.
The book’s narration largely takes place between 2008 and 2018, and builds on the author’s previous book, providing shocking details into the inner workings of Russia. Russian leaders seem to have nothing to spare when implementing cover-ups, not only through assassinations, torture and imprisonment, but also though mobilizing the Russian legal system, as well as that of the US.
It is worthwhile noting that it might have been issues concerning the enactment of the Magnitsky legislation that are the key factors behind Russia’s attack on the 2018 presidential election. The book also claims that another reason for Mr. Trump being pro-Russia might be that Mr. Putin may have files that expose Mr. Trump’s sex life (p. 228). And, surprisingly, at least to this reviewer, would be the pro-Putin leaning of Prince Albert of Monaco (p. 70). Interpol is apparently notoriously known for being lax on Russian extradition requests.
It is also worthwhile to consider that several prominent US individuals and institutions sided with the Russians when it came to working against the Magnitsky legislation, notably the well-known New York law firm, BakerHostetter, several prominent lawyers working for this firm, including Mr. Moscow and Mr. Cymrod, some leading politicians and the well-known lobbyist, Glenn Simpson. On top of this, the judge presiding at the New York Court of Appeals was the 84-year-old Thomas Griesa (p. 114).
A collection of good lawyers (Michael Kim, etc.), a fact-orientated judge, and the US Government’s Affairs expert, Kyle Parker were all supportive of Mr. Browder’s case. There was not only a sense of drama surrounding the case, but also real tragedy. Both Boris Newton, a well-known Russian activist, and Alexander Perepilichseyy, an informer, were mysteriously killed. Another activist, Vladimir Kara-Murga, was poisoned, but survived.
Putin himself was not directly involved. His official profile has always been to stay clear of any dubious financial transactions, and rather to work through others. Key legal officers on the Russian side were Yuri Chaika, Russia’s general prosecutor, and Ms. Vesenitskega, who was in charge of the Magnitsky case.
It becomes abundantly clear that Browder was indeed a tough fighter. Perhaps the most important conclusion from the book is that the Russians never seem to want to back down, and that only a strong, uncompromising person, such as Browder, might be something that the Russians understand. Mr. Browder had unusual support from his CFO, Mr. Kleiner, an exceptionally effective “snooper”, in addition to the many persons that were on his side. Still, there is no doubt that Browder’s exceptional and imaginative fighting spirit made the difference. None of the efforts by the Russians nor by their US collaborators were successful! So, while in the end, the success of the Magnitsky legislation was a reality - almost 30 countries adopting the legislation made it hard for illegal payments to reach the fraudulent sum of USD230 million to avoid being “frozen”- there is still no complete clarity when it comes to the specific person that was responsible. This shall perhaps never be known.
תגובות