Browner: In Davos, the operation of Russian special services is prevented

In August 2019, the Swiss intelligence agencies were exposed in Davos - the venue of the World Economic Forum - two alleged Russian intelligence agents. The story of this was published by the Swiss edition of Tages-ANzeiger to open the forum on January 21.

According to the publication, Switzerland’s security authorities in August last year drew attention to two Russians who arrived in the country. One of them stated that he was working as a plumber. At the same time, the Russians planned to stay in Switzerland for three weeks, but could not name specific plans. All this aroused suspicion of the authorities. In addition, both "tourists" had a Russian diplomatic passport with them. This fact was confirmed by the local police.

The Russian side threatened with diplomatic consequences in the event of the arrest of alleged agents, the newspaper writes. When asked why the plumbers had diplomatic passports, the press attaches of the Russian embassy in Bern said that not only employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs receive such documents.

According to the sources of the newspaper, Russians in Davos could prepare an operation on wiretapping or hacker attack during the January Economic Forum. However, in the end, the Russians were released, since their espionage activities were not proved.

Today, the famous financier William Brighter said that he was the alleged goal of the Russian special services. He believes that this is due to his efforts aimed at investigating the death of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, and accusations against the Russian authorities of the murder of Magnitsky and hiding the crime, Brauder said in a commentary for Radio Liberty.

“Last Friday, representatives of the Swiss intelligence services contacted me and reported that there was a probable threat of my security, and this threat comes from Russia,” said William Brauder.

• Brauder is a former employer of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who died in the Russian pre -trial detention center in 2009. After his death, the businessman was the initiator of the adoption of the "Act of Magnitsky" - the US Law, which imposes sanctions against people responsible for violation of human rights in Russia. A similar law is adopted in the UK and is considered in the European Union. In Russia, financier William Browner was sentenced in absentia to nine years in prison for tax evasion. He himself claims that he is pursued for the disclosure of corruption schemes in the country.