who is the russian lawyer

by Dr. Brock VonRueden 9 min read

Natalia Vladimirovna Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer. Her clients include Pyotr Katsyv, an official in the state-owned Russian Railways, and his son Denis Katsyv, whom she defended against a money laundering charge in New York. On 8 January 2019, Veselnitskaya was indicted in the United States with obstruction of justice charges for allegedly having attempted to thwart the Justice Department investigation into the money laundering charges against Katsyv. Her June 2016 meeting with Donald Trump

Full Answer

Who is the lawyer for Pyotr Katsyv?

Alexander Kerensky was a Russian revolutionary and lawyer who played a major role in the Russian Revolution of 1917. Alexander Kerensky is often portrayed in films and TV series. In the 1971 epic historical drama film Nicholas and Alexandra, he was played by John McEnery. In the 2019 series The Last Czars, he was portrayed by Kestutis Cicenas.

Does the Moscow lawyer who met Trump Jr have Russian spy agency?

Apr 18, 2016 · Legal Services. Our attorneys in Russia offer various legal services for local and international clients interested in opening or liquidating a company in this country, mergers & acquisitions and other business issues. We represent you in any litigation you may have in Russia, at any court and throughout all the stages of the legal procedures.

Who represented Russian firm at center of major money-laundering probe?

Mar 09, 2022 · “There is in the Russian system a prosecutor, a defense attorney, and an investigator. The investigator's job is to build the case file. As the saying goes: ‘What is not in the case file, is not in...

Who is Veselnitskaya?

Jul 12, 2017 · She was the defence lawyer for Denis Katsyv, a Russian businessman accused of laundering a portion of the proceeds from a $230m tax fraud uncovered by the lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who later died ...

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Who played Alexander Kerensky?

Alexander Kerensky is often portrayed in films and TV series. In the 1971 epic historical drama film Nicholas and Alexandra, he was played by John McEnery. In the 2019 series The Last Czars, he was portrayed by Kestutis Cicenas.

Who is Vladimir Putin's opposition leader?

Described by The Wall Street Journal as the man Vladimir Putin fears most, Alexei Navalny is widely regarded as Russia' s opposition leader. He is famous for his accusations of corruption in Russia and Putin's government. In 2011, he created the Anti-Corruption Foundation, which was dissolved in 2020. In August 2020, there was an attempt to assassinate him, when he was poisoned during a flight from Tomsk to Moscow.

Who is Dmitry Medvedev?

Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, has also been the prime minister and president of Russia. Born to teacher parents, he was an intelligent child and began studying his father’s encyclopedia in third grade. He is known for his support of the nuclear disarmament treaty.

Who was the leader of the KGB in 1991?

Soviet lawyer, diplomat, and KGB chief Vladimir Kryuchkov is best remembered for his involvement in the 1991 coup against Mikhail Gorbachev. Born to working-class Stalin-supporting parents, he initially worked with the Communist Youth League. He misinterpreted the Able Archer 83 conflict simulation as the beginning of a nuclear attack.

Who is the prosecutor general of Russia?

In a 14 July 2017, interview with The Wall Street Journal, Veselnitskaya acknowledged that she was in regular contact with the Russian prosecutor general 's office and with Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika "while waging a campaign against U.S. sanctions".

When did Veselnitskaya graduate from the Moscow State Legal Academy?

Veselnitskaya has said that she graduated with distinction from the Moscow State Legal Academy in 1998. She attests that she was then employed for a period by the prosecutor's office in Moscow Oblast, where she worked on legislation, and claims to have won over 300 legal cases. Veselnitskaya switched to private practice, ...

What did Veselnitskaya say about the Magnitsky Act?

said that Veselnitskaya used the meeting to criticize the Magnitsky Act. Veselnitskaya herself commented that she mostly talked about Browder's (alleged) misdeeds , whereas the Trump team wanted what she termed "some sort of grenade".

How did Karapetyan die?

During an unauthorized flight, Karapetyan died in a helicopter crash north-east of Moscow in March 2019. President Donald Trump fired Bharara on 11 March 2017 and Jeff Sessions replaced him with Joon Kim as the acting US Attorney for the southern district of New York during the rest of the case.

Who is Yury Chaika?

In an interview with NBC News in April 2017, Veselnitskaya said that she is both a lawyer and an informant who has provided Yury Chaika, the Russian prosecutor general, with information since 2013.

Who was Sergei Magnitsky?

In 2009, Sergei Magnitsky, a tax accountant who had accused Moscow law enforcement of stealing $230 million in tax rebates from his client, was beaten to death in jail. In 2012, Magnitsky's client, Bill Browder, secured passage of the American Magnitsky Act, which imposed sanctions on the officials involved.

Who is Rinat Akhmetshin?

Rinat Akhmetshin, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Russia, who has worked as a Washington lobbyist since 1998, agreed to lobby for the foundation backed by Denis Katsyv. From 1986 to 1988, Akmetshin served in the Soviet Army, where he obtained the rank of sergeant and worked in a counterintelligence unit for the KGB.

Who is Magnitsky?

Magnitsky was a Russian lawyer and auditor who in 2007 and 2008 uncovered an alleged vast corruption scheme involving about $230 million, according to a federal indictment by the U.S. Southern District of New York in 2013. The alleged tax fraud scheme came at the expense of an investment firm, Hermitage Capital, owned by an American investor, Bill Browder, according to the U.S. indictment.

Did Donald Trump Jr. receive an email?

Donald Trump Jr. reportedly received an email indicating information to be revealed in a meeting with a Russian lawyer was part of a Russian government effort to help his dad's campaign, according to The New York Times.

What is the mixed system of judicial procedure in Russia?

As the Russian courts apply a mixed system of judicial procedure ( see Question 18 ), the judges are impartial adjudicators, but at the same time can participate actively in the legal proceedings. For instance, the judge can interrogate the witnesses after the parties, engage experts in the legal proceedings, if necessary, and assist the parties in gathering evidence.

What is the Russian Federation's legislative body?

The Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (Parliament) is Russia's representative and legislative body. Judicial power is held by federal judges, appointed by the President, and judges of the regional courts, appointed by local authorities.

What is a Q&A in Russia?

A Q&A guide to the legal system in the Russian Federation. The Q&A gives a high level overview of the key legal concepts including the constitution, system of governance and the general legislative process; the main sources of law; the court structure and hierarchy; the judiciary and its appointment; the general rules of civil ...

What is the system of governance in Russia?

The system of governance in the Russian Federation is a semi-presidential republic. The President of the Russian Federation (President), as the highest executive authority, provides overall guidance of the Government of the Russian Federation. He appoints after (consultation with the Parliament):

What power does the President have?

The President also has the power of legislative veto. The State Duma can remove the Government by a vote of no confidence. The Parliament, via a qualified majority vote, can impeach the President. The Constitutional Court can invalidate a law or a legal act that does not comply with the Constitution.

How many readings are required to pass a bill?

Federal laws are passed by a majority of votes of the total number of the deputies of the State Duma. The general rule is that three readings are required to pass a bill.

Who has the power to initiate the legislative process?

The power to initiate legislative process belongs to the President, the Council of the Federation and its members, the deputies of the State Duma, the Government and the legislative bodies of the regions. The Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court can also propose a bill, but only on issues within their authority.

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Overview

Natalia Vladimirovna Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer. Her clients include Pyotr Katsyv, an official in the state-owned Russian Railways, and his son Denis Katsyv, whom she defended against a money laundering charge in New York. On 8 January 2019, Veselnitskaya was indicted in the United States with obstruction of justicecharges for allegedly having attempted to thwart the Justice Depart…

Education and career

Veselnitskaya has said that she graduated with distinction from the Moscow State Legal Academy in 1998. She attests that she was then employed for a period by the prosecutor's office in Moscow Oblast, where she worked on legislation, and claims to have won over 300 legal cases. Veselnitskaya switched to private practice, focusing on land deals in the expanding Moscow suburbs.

Advocacy against the Magnitsky Act

In 2009, Sergei Magnitsky, a tax accountant who had accused Moscow law enforcement of stealing $230 million in tax rebates from his client, was beaten to death in jail. In 2012, Magnitsky's client, Bill Browder, secured passage of the American Magnitsky Act, which imposed sanctions on the officials involved. Russian President Vladimir Putin responded with the Dima Yakovlev Lawbannin…

Personal life

Veselnitskaya was formerly married to Aleksandr Mitusov (Russian: Александр Митусов), a former deputy transportation minister of the Moscow area while Petr Katsyv, Denis Katsyv's father, was the main director.

See also

• Russian espionage in the United States
• Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections

Background on The Magnitsky Case

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Magnitsky was a Russian lawyer and auditor who in 2007 and 2008 uncovered an alleged vast corruption scheme involving about $230 million, according to a federal indictment by the U.S. Southern District of New York in 2013. The alleged tax fraud scheme came at the expense of an investment firm, Hermitage Capital, owned by …
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The Kremlin and The Magnitsky Fallout

  • The Kremlin retaliated for the Magnitsky Act, in part, by banning U.S. adoptions of Russian children. There are indications that some people involved in the alleged fraud that Magnitsky uncovered are being given cover by the Kremlin. Russia issued an Interpolred notice for Browder, which Interpol later rejected as politically motivated. Magnitsky was put on trial posthumously a…
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Veselnitskaya's Role

  • Veselnitskaya acted as the lawyer for Denis Katsyv, a key figure in the U.S. indictment. The son of a former Moscow regional transport minister, he was sole owner of Prevezon Holdings, which was named in the U.S. indictment alleging that some proceeds from the tax fraud scheme were laundered through the purchase of New York City real estate. The U.S. Attorney's Office in New Y…
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