Freezing Order: A True Story of Money Laundering, Murder, and Surviving Vladimir Putin's Wrath

As the Swiss proceeded with their criminal inquiry, the prosecutor requested the name of the Russian whistleblower. Browder promised Perepilichnyy that he wouldn’t disclose his name—and declined to provide it. However, that very day, Stepanov published an ad identifying Perepilichnyy. The Russian government sent its top law enforcement officer, Yuri Chaika, to Switzerland in an attempt to cover up the tax fraud. When that didn’t stop the criminal inquiry, the Russians began a criminal case against Perepilichnyy. Pavlov, a personal lawyer to crime boss Klyuev, told Perepilichnyy that the Russian charges would be dropped if he made a statement to the Swiss exonerating the Stepanovs. However, if Perepilichnyy did that, he’d be subject to Swiss prosecution. In a bind, Perepilichnyy gave a formal witness statement implicating the Stepanovs on April 26, 2012—despite legitimately fearing for his life. While Perepilichnyy lived in London, the Russians had his personal information, though his address was incorrect, and there was concern that a hit man had been hired.

Because the OSCE PA was voting on a resolution encouraging member states to pass Magnitsky Acts, Browder attended its meeting in Monaco in July 2012. He was somewhat concerned about going to Monaco because Prince Albert, the head of state in Monaco, was pals with Putin.