The summons is a clumsy attempt to create a pretext for issuing an arrest warrant for Browder, the fund said in a letter published online Monday.
Browder was banned from entering Russia in 2005 on unexplained "security grounds," which means he could not travel to Moscow for questioning, said the letter, which is dated Sunday and addressed to top officials, including Kremlin chief of staff Sergei Naryshkin, Prosecutor General Yury Chaika and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Moreover, Browder was given less than half a day to make travel arrangements to arrive for a first round of questioning Thursday, followed by a second round Monday, the letter said.?
Interior Ministry spokeswoman Irina Dudukina said Thursday that failure to meet with investigators might result in an arrest warrant being issued for Browder.
Dudukina denied the allegations in Hermitage’s letter Monday, saying there are no visa restrictions in place for Browder, Interfax reported. She added that investigators discussed the matter of Browder’s summons with his lawyers Monday, but refused to elaborate.
Browder was earlier placed on an international wanted list in connection with a tax evasion case that he says is revenge from officials involved in a $230 million tax fraud that Hermitage was trying to expose. Browder’s colleague Sergei Magnitsky was arrested in connection with the same case in 2008 and died from health problems 11 months later in detention. Hermitage says Magnitsky was intentionally denied medical help.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.