Q&A: The Magnitsky affair

Sergei Magnitsky died in custody in November 2009

The Magnitsky affair has soured relations between Moscow and Washington, casting a spotlight on corruption in Russia.

It led to US sanctions on a group of Russian officials, retaliation by Russia and the bizarre spectacle of a dead man being put on trial.

That man, the late lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, was found guilty of tax fraud by a Moscow court on 11 July 2013, as was his former boss, US-born investment fund manager Bill Browder. Mr Magnitsky died in prison in 2009 - allegedly after beatings - but Russia dropped an investigation into his death.

Who was Sergei Magnitsky?

How did he die?

Did Russia investigate?

How did this start?

How does the US come into it?

How did Russia respond?