Comments by "irresistablejewel" (@irresistablejewel) on "'Vladimir Putin has ruined the future of Russia', says Head of Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign" video.

I hate to be a detractor; but Mr Bill Browder is a rather dubious character, (ex-American, now a British citizen; a fund manager, in Moscow, in the early 90's); I'm not even convinced his "cause" is just; but it is clear why he hates the Russian government. They raided his offices in Moscow; confiscated millions (claiming tax was not paid); he hired a Russian lawyer (Magnitsky), who died in custody; in the attempt to expose corruption in Russia. The Magnitsky act advocates "sanctions" against both China and Russia; confiscation of assets; it's aimed more at individuals (largely because "superpowers" can sanction right back); it's in line with current American foreign policy, but "legally stealing other people's stuff" seems a dubious concept; I do not regard Bill Broder as an honest broker and I'm prepared to tell you why, because there will undoubtedly be repercussions (tit for tat); it's not really about Magnitsky, or Chinese Muslims, it's about money; Mr Broder was a fund manager, in Russia; made millions; therefore he must be corrupt. You see Moscow in the early 1990's was like Chicago 1930's, as seen in the movies; it was extremely violent; there were powerful groups: the Chechen mafia were about to start a terrorist campaign (for independence) their HQ was in "The bad tooth of Moscow"; Hotel Ukraine was the HQ of another; the IMF bailout money went straight through the system, then (curiously) the oligarchs were allowed to leave (just don't get into politics!!); my partner and I were casino trouble-shooters (they're now banned, which is good imo; because Russians don't have money to gamble, it's immoral; only the mafia had money to gamble). Yes along came "capitalism"; foreign multinationals could form a 50/50 partnership with a Russian company, could lease land and property and that involves a flexible attitude to things like bribery. So how did Bill Broder make his millions? Now I hate the legal profession, almost as much as hedge fund managers; but trying to expose corruption in Russia?? Well look what happened to those American "whistle-blowers"... Let's be honest here, Broder wasn't on any crusade to stamp out corruption in Russia, he wanted the money back, I'd call that his "ill gotten gains" because the average wage was around $200/month; he's got $230,000,000. That's probably why the Russian government raided his business. His lawyer went to jail, but he didn't; the Russian legal system is hellishly slow (usually gives time to leave); but trying to sue the Russian government claiming corruption (when you had hundreds of millions), that is a fatal mistake. It's such a large sum of money (in Russia of that time), it's blatantly obvious something is not on the level. I would say it's Mr Broder; who reminds me of the chap from "Catch Me If You Can"; a pleasant enough chap in appearance, but quite a dangerous person when let loose on the general public. I'm only writing this because Mr Browder is now a British citizen and I'd rather he didn't use us, in his crusade, to steal more. There is some confusion about Russian oligarchs; they were allowed to leave with billions; the one that tried to get into politics was jailed for 10 year (out in 9), then asset stripped and banished; he doesn't like the Russian government either (don't get into politics"" Remember?). It is a terrible thing when people die in police custody; or get jailed for telling the truth; it shouldn't happen; it's tiring when the corrupt find a "cause"; I don't want to say Mr Browder sent his lawyer to certain death, but he's not an oligarch (they left); it was a very violent time, low level corruption a way of doing business (it works), but he virtually signed his death warrant, then left Russia. The Russian Oligarchs have had years to legitimise their vast fortunes, they of course can hire expensive lawyers, every mafia group had assassins (of course they have "connections"); I doubt they want much to do with the American or Russian governments (too busy being rich); the Western media really have the wrong end of things (as usual). "Making Russia pay", I don't see what they owe the British, Mr Broder and money again; how much to pay him to go away?
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