Moscow Court Begins Second Trial in Absentia Against Browder - Lawyer

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The case of the Hermitage Capital Management investment fund founder William Browder on the tax evasion was transferred to Moscow's Tverskoy District Court, Browder's lawyer Alexander Antipov said Friday, adding that the defendant himself would not be taking part in the trial.

Browder is charged with the organization of tax evasion, organization of deliberate bankruptcy and an attempt to breach the duties of a tax agent, Antipov said, adding that the accusations include episodes of bankruptcy of the Dalnyaya Step company and the illegal transfer of Gazprom shares abroad. The investigators estimated the total damage from the actions of Browder and his business partner Ivan Cherkasov in the case of deliberate bankruptcy and tax crimes at 3.5 billion rubles ($59 million).

"Neither Browder, nor myself, nor Cherkasov, nor his lawyer are going to participate in the trial," said the lawyer.

Antipov added that this was the position of his client.

Antipov pointed out that a duty lawyer was appointed by the court, according to Article 51 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

According to court files, the next hearing on the case is scheduled for September 7.

William Browder, a UK millionaire of US origin, is an international financier and investor. In 1995-2007, Browder was the largest foreign portfolio investor in Russia.

In 2013, Russia sentenced Browder in absentia to nine years in prison for tax evasion and falsely claiming tax breaks for hiring disabled persons. In February, the Tverskoy District Court authorized in absentia the arrest of Cherkasov and Browder and established the period of detention within two months from the date of their transfer to Russian law enforcement agencies in case of extradition or deportation. Browder and Cherkasov are currently residing in London.