Anna’s Days: Doing Business in Russia

Monday, October 10, 2011, 15.45–17.15, Faculty of Law, Charles University

In cooperation with People in Need

 

Moderator:

Rostislav Valvoda, People in Need, Czech Republic

 

Panel Discussion:

William Browder, Founder and CEO, Hermitage Capital Management, United Kingdom

Vadim Klyuvgant, Lawyer, Russia

 

 

This panel discussion, in conjunction with People in Need, commemorates the death of Anna Politkovskaya, a Russian reporter and activist. The panel discussed future prospects for Russia, in the light of the efflux of capital and people from Russia, and personal experiences of doing business in Russia.

 

William Browder talked about his withdrawal from Russian business following corruption that resulted in the death of one of his lawyers, Sergei Magnitsky, while he was in custody. Vadim Klyuvgant, a member of the defense team for Mikhail Khodorkovski, regarded this case as “an indicator for what is happening in Russia” and shows “how the state treats Russian businessmen and people in general”. The panelists agreed that the European Court of Human Rights does not appear to solve the case because judgments are only issued after many years. Klyuvgantpointed out that it is up to civil society to do something about the situation, and every publicly held discussion of the matters is “part of the battle”, speeding up the solution through understanding, which replaces indifference of citizens.

 

The panel discussion ended with hopes for improvement in Russia. Browder alsomentioned the lack of ideology justifying fraud in comparison to the Soviet era, and brought attention to a growing nationalist movement. Klyuvgant, on the other hand, hopes for a “resuscitation” which will not end in a coup, like in the Arab countries.