Press release October 22, 2017
Russia Manipulates Interpol against Browder
Russian authorities placed William Browder on Interpol's 'wanted list" in retaliation for his campaign to sanction corrupt and abusive Russian officials, including those involved in the murder of Sergei Magnitsky.
Washington
In response to the United States apparently deciding to revoke a U.S. visa for William Browder, the investor who led the campaign that brought to light Russia’s murder of his imprisoned colleague Sergei Magnitsky, Freedom House issued the following statement:
“Russian authorities cynically manipulated Interpol by having him placed on Interpol’s ‘wanted list,’ because of his spearheading the campaign that sanctioned Russian officials involved in Sergei Magnitsky’s murder, large-scale corruption, and grave human rights abuses,” said Michael J. Abramowitz, president of Freedom House. “American officials should recognize Russia’s action against Browder as an attack against an unusually effective whistleblower. Browder should be thanked by the U.S. government, not prevented from traveling here, for exposing serious crimes by Russian officials.”
Russia is rated Not Free in Freedom in the World 2017, Not Free in Freedom of the Press 2017, Not Free in Freedom on the Net 2016, and receives a democracy score of 6.57, on a scale of 1 to 7, with 7 as the worst possible score, in Nations in Transit 2017.