In Moscow, alegaladviser called Sergei Magnitsky had begun to investigate for Browder, but within months Magnitsky was arrested on suspicion of tax offences.
Making sure the transition goes smoothly, Benedict made an important appointment Wednesday, naming the No. 2 administrator of the Vatican city state, Monsignor Giuseppe Sciacca, as alegaladviser to the camerlengo.
"The fact that he said this is a pretty clear sign that there's a worrying division which is opening up between Europe and the U.S. on this matter, " said Alec Burnside, alegaladviser to software association CompTIA, which supported Microsoft in the European Court of First Instance.