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Browder’s Russian lawyer unaware of new case against his client

Earlier on Friday, some media referred to sources close to investigation saying about a new criminal case against William Browder, a US businessman living in London
Hermitage Capital’s head William Browder AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere
Hermitage Capital’s head William Browder
© AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere

MOSCOW, December 25. /TASS/. Alexander Antipov, lawyer of Hermitage Capital’s head William Browder does not have official information on a new criminal case against his client.

"I do not have any official information about it, and if a lawyer representing interests of a person, against whom criminal proceedings begin, is unaware of them, then opening of the procedures is deemed illegal," the lawyer told TASS, adding the investigative authorities are well aware he represents Browder’s interests in Russia.

Earlier on Friday, some media referred to sources close to investigation saying about a new criminal case against William Browder, a US businessman living in London.

Russia has placed Browder on international wanted list. He is accused of illegally obtaining over 131 million shares of Russian energy giant Gazprom in the period of 1999 and 2004 at internal market prices. Foreigners were barred at that time from directly owning the Gazprom stock.

A Russian court earlier sentenced Browder in absentia to nine years in prison for tax evasion worth over 522 million rubles (about $9 million at the current exchange rate). Under the court’s ruling, Browder is also barred from engaging in entrepreneurial activity for two years.