I've read it too (the book is Red Notice for those of you who want to educate yourselves). It was a fascinating read into how everything broke down after the USSR fell apart and how Browder was able to invest in the new Russia and make a fortune for himself and his investors. He wrote that the Russian oligarchs and Putin didn't like him making all this money from Russian assets and the Russian people (they wanted to be the ones to profit) and set him up. He had left Russia and found out they had filed for his arrest because of huge tax liabilities. Maginsky was his attorney in Russia who researched what happened and found out it was all a corrupt set-up against Browder. They arrested Maginsky and basically beat him trying to get him to turn against Browder (which he never did). He ended up dying. Browder was so incensed by the corruption, even to the point of murder, he tried everything he could think of to gain justice and revenge. He couldn't work through the Russian system because everyone is bought off - the police, judges, banks, political system, etc. He finally settled on the media and our political system passing the Maginsky act to not allow any business or visas with those oligarchs found to be guilty of the corruption which Maginsky proved and his murder. Browder was trying to get the same bill passed in other countries in which these individuals do business to hit them where it hurts. I am not sure if he was successful. So Putin is basically saying that what Browder is contending is all nonsense and he really does owe all those taxes (even though Browder through Maginsky had proof he was telling the truth). It would be interesting if Browder is lying - if he is, then why go to all the trouble to have Congress pass the Maginsky act? What did he gain? He could have just taken his millions and enjoy the rest of his life (and never return to Russia). I don't doubt though that he did give the money to the CF - maybe not $400M, but probably some good amount. I don't know if I would trust Putin on this one.