Putin critic Bill Browder released after arrest in Spain

British businessman Bill Browder, an outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was arrested by Spanish polic" in Madrid on a Russian arrest warrant, according to a tweet he posted on Wednesday morning. He was released later that morning. Browder first tweeted: "Urgent: Just was arrested by Spanish police in Madrid on a Russian Interpol arrest warrant. Going to the police station right now." A few minutes later he sent another: "In the back of the Spanish police car going to the station on the Russian arrest warrant. They won't tell me which station." The warrant that Browder posted shows that he is being arrested for alleged fraud. Later on Monday morning, Browder shared a post of him being released, saying: "Good news. Spanish National Police just released me after Interpol General Secretary in Lyon advised them not to honor the new Russian Interpol Red Notice. This is the 6th time that Russia has abused Interpol in my case" An Interpol spokesperson declined to comment. The organisation has previously urged member countries to ignore attempts by Russia to use its network to apprehend Browder. 'I've been threatened' Browder told Euronews earlier this year that he had been threatened by the Kremlin. When speaking about the attempted murder of Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in early March, Browder claimed Russia was responsible and that he feared for his own life. "I've been threatened by Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian prime minister, who said at Davos: It's a shame that Sergei Magnitsky (my lawyer) is dead and Bill Browder is still alive and running around." The American-born businessman, who heads Hermitage Capital Management, had said threats against him came after he initiated and rallied Western countries to adopt the Magnitsky Act, which imposes sanctions on Russian officials accused of human rights abuses. The act was named after his lawyer and tax accountant Sergei Magnitsky, who died in a Russian jail after accusing the interior ministry of corruption. Six countries have passed the act, which Browder said angered Putin.

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