Magnitsky Case Timeline

Posted November 16th, 2011 at 4:05 pm (UTC-5)
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June 2007 — Russian police raid the Moscow offices of investment firm Hermitage Capital Management, confiscating information that is later used to defraud the Russian state of $230 million in taxes.

June 2008 — Hermitage lawyer Sergei Magnitsky testifies about the tax fraud he has discovered.

November 2008 — Russian authorities arrest Magnitsky on charges of tax evasion and he is jailed in Butyrka prison, where he develops gallstones and pancreatitis. He is repeatedly encouraged to testify against Hermitage and drop the tax scam accusations.

November 16, 2009 — Magnitsky dies in jail of pancreatitis at the age of 37 after being denied medical treatment.

November 18, 2009 — Russian human rights activists demand an independent investigation into the prison death of Magnitsky.

November 24, 2009 — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev orders the country's chief prosecutor to investigate the prison death of Magnitsky. Officials are also ordered to examine the practice of holding financial crime suspects in pre-trial detention while investigations are carried out.

December 11, 2009 — President Medvedev fires 20 prison officials. No reason is given for the action.

February 26, 2010 — Mr. Medvedev says he wants to introduce new laws changing how economic crimes are investigated and prosecuted, making it harder for corrupt police to extort money from business leaders. He says he will submit a bill to parliament that will at least partially prevent law enforcement officials from jailing business owners and then charging money to set them free.

November 16, 2010 — On the one-year anniversary of Magnitsky's death, Russia says it will open a fourth forensic probe into his death.

July 4, 2011 — Russian investigators determine Magnitsky died in prison for lack of medical treatment.

July 18, 2011 — Russian prosecutors launch criminal probe against two prison officials for their suspected roles in Magnitsky's death.

July 26, 2011 — The U.S. State Department imposes a travel ban on dozens of Russian officials suspected of involvement in Magnitsky's death.

July 27, 2011 — Russia's Foreign Ministry responds harshly to U.S. plans to impose visa restrictions against Russian officials believed to be responsible for Magnitsky's death, promising to take measures to protect the rights of Russian citizens against what it calls “unjustified moves” by foreign states.

August 2, 2011 — Russian prosecutors reopen the criminal investigation into Magnitsky's death. No reason is given for the decision.

August 11, 2011 — Russia charges two doctors in the death of Magnitsky. The Investigative Committee says it established a direct link between the doctors' actions and Magnitsky's death.

October 22, 2011 — Russia bans visits by certain U.S. officials in retaliation for Washington's blacklisting of Russian officials allegedly involved in Magnitsky's death.

November 16, 2011 — Supporters around the world mark the second anniversary of Magnitsky's death, but the Moscow Times says the date is virtually ignored in Russia. The U.S. Helsinki Commission in Washington and Amnesty International in London are among those hosting performances of the play, One Hour Eighteen, which depicts the last moments before Magnitsky's death. The U.S. State Department issues a statement honoring Magnitsky's memory and accusing Russian officials of failing to bring to justice those responsible for his death.