Hearing postponed in trial of Magnitsky
A preliminary hearing has been postponed in the posthumous trial
of Sergei Magnitsky, the Russian lawyer who died in prison in 2009
after accusing government officials of corruption, Radio Liberty
reported.
A Magnitsky family lawyer told the Interfax news agency that the
family would not cooperate in the trial, which has now been set for
February 18.
The court announced it will appoint lawyers to defend
Magnitsky.
Prosecutors filed new charges of tax evasion against Magnitsky last
year.
Charges have also been filed against William Browder, the owner of
the Hermitage Capital investment fund where Magnitsky worked.
Browder, who is no longer in Russia, is to be tried in
absentia.
Supporters say Magnitsky was denied proper medical care and abused
while in prison.
Colleagues say he implicated mid-ranking Interior Ministry and tax
officials in a $230 million scheme to defraud the government.