Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice

Magnitsky is the Hermitage tax attorney at Firestone Duncan in Moscow. He is in his 30s, married, has one son, and is somewhat idealistic about the changing political situation in Russia. When threats are made against him, he refuses to escape on the grounds that he’s “done nothing wrong” (254). He is imprisoned and systematically mistreated until he becomes ill; the perpetrators expect him to cave in and sign a confession that implicates Browder. Instead, Magnitsky resists, refusing to cooperate until his tormentors order him to be beaten to death. Magnitsky’s treatment becomes a rallying point for human-rights activists worldwide, and the US Congress passes a law, the Magnitsky Act, that puts sanctions on those responsible for his imprisonment and death. Other countries follow suit, including the European Parliament, which approves similar sanctions.

Interior Ministry Colonel Kuznetsov specializes in extortion and shakedowns, and when Browder resists, Kuznetsov begins a campaign of intimidation, including raids on Browder’s offices and those of his associates. Kuznetsov, alongside police official Pavel Karpov, form the nexus of a conspiracy against the Hermitage team, bolstered by close ties with the Russian secret service agency FSB.

A young major in the Russian police, Karpov—along with Artem Kuznetsov—masterminds the downfall of Hermitage Capital and the murder of its attorney, Sergei Magnitsky. Browder sets his sights on Karpov, meaning to expose his criminality, and Karpov responds by suing Browder for defamation in a British court. The judge throws out the case. At book’s end, Karpov still runs free in Russia, his complicity in blackmail, torture, and murder unavenged. Browder’s campaign does, however, get him banned from entering the US, Western Europe, and several other jurisdictions around the world.

Elena Molokova is a brilliant young Russian with PhDs in economics and political science; she meets Browder in Moscow and becomes his second wife, then moves with him to London, where she bears him two children. Elena supports his efforts to expose Russian corruption and stands by him during his darkest days.

Economics PhD Vadim is head of research at Hermitage’s Moscow office; he later escapes death threats in Russia and emigrates to Britain, where he continues his work for Browder’s team.

Eduard is one of Hermitage’s Moscow attorneys. His efforts in support of Browder’s anti-corruption crusade put him in the crosshairs of Russian authorities. He escapes deep into Russia’s interior and from there travels to the West, where he reunites with the Hermitage team in London.

Pastukhov is “a Moscow lawyer Hermitage had used as outside counsel over the years. Vladimir was the wisest man [Browder] knew” (179). Vladimir’s work on behalf of Hermitage makes him a target for corrupt officials; he barely escapes Russia and moves to London, where he continues his work for Browder’s team.

Billionaire bank owner Safra supports Browder’s Hermitage Russian fund with a $25-million-dollar investment that pays off handsomely. Safra later dies under mysterious circumstances, and Russian authorities try to blame it on Browder.

Perepilichnyy, a former Russian banker, uses the Sanches moniker when Browder’s team first meets him in London, as he fears exposure and assassination by the Russians. His crime: escaping a blackmail threat by one of his clients, corrupt tax official Olga Stepanova. Perepilichnyy’s information helps Browder’s team in its case against Stepanova and other officials. He drops dead one day in England, and the autopsy can’t determine cause of death; Browder suspects foul play at the hands of Russian agents.