Russian trial against dead lawyer (who exposed massive tax fraud involving state officials) proceeds

[pampango]

Trial against dead Russian lawyer to proceed
Critics say trial meant to discredit Sergei Magnitsky, who exposed massive tax fraud involving state officials.

A Russian court has ordered the trial of a dead anti-corruption lawyer to proceed next week, ignoring calls by his family and lawyers to abandon a case they say is absurd and politically motivated.

Defense lawyers said the 37-year old's trial will be the first for a dead person in Russia. "The trial is indeed absurd," said lawyer Alexander Molokhov after the court rejected his application to defend Magnitsky. The court had already appointed a legal team to defend Magnitsky after his own lawyers refused to take part in a trial, which his relatives say is politically motivated.

Magnitsky died while in custody in 2009, after he had complained repeatedly of being denied medical treatment. His death has damaged Russia's image and triggered an ongoing diplomatic row with the United States.

The case against Magnitsky was initially closed after his death in November 2009, but authorities reopened it in 2011 as international criticism over his death - and Russia's apparent reluctance to hold anyone criminally responsible - mounted.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2013/03/2013342239999306.html

If you expose government corruption in Russia, the government will go after you even after you die in their custody.