Any regular reader of this blog is no stranger to William Browder’s roller-coaster history as a foreign investor in Russia, a one-time success story turned ultimate victim, including the horrific death in prison of his lawyer Sergei Magnitsky following torture by denial of medical services. 

While still no one has ever been held accountable for the death of Magnitsky, and instead of investigations into the matter the prosecutors seem much more interested in producing cases and investigations against the victims, today Kommersant is reporting some small developments that may indicate a softening stance towards Browder.

As reported by Miriam Elder on GlobalPost:

According to Kommersant, Browder has been removed from an international wanted list and his case transferred from the general prosecutor’s office to the interior ministry (police) department of Russia’s Central District (which includes Moscow). Sources told the paper the departmental transfer was an attempt to gain “objectivity” in the case. General Prosecutor Yury Chaika, recently reappointed, has come under fire both inside and outside Russia for politicization of cases. On Monday, Hermitage’s lawyers said they asked Russia’s investigative committee to open an investigation into Chaika.