A Third World Killing
In an opinion editorial for The Moscow Times, Yulia Latynina, a political talk show host, comments on the death of Sergei Magnitsky.
William Browder, head of Hermitage Capital Management, whom Magnitsky worked for, investigated the ownership structure of Surgutneftegaz, a company that allegedly belongs to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. As a result, he was forced to leave Russia and the company's office was raided in June 2007. Heading the search was Lieutenant Colonel Artyom Kuznetsov, an official with the tax inspection department of the Interior Ministry.
Magnitsky later stated in testimony "Kuznetsov was present during the search of the branch office...and said that if we had met with him earlier as he had suggested, none of this would have happened," which Latynina believes may have been his death sentence.
Latynina stated: "For all intents and purposes, Magnitsky was tortured to death to extract testimony against Browder. Magnitsky's death marks a new stage in Russian history - it has definitely become a Third World country."