Russian president Vladimir Putin has placed one of his strongest critics on the Interpol wanted list – following Canada’s passage of a bill last week – that lets this country bring sanctions against human-rights abusers.

Bill Browder says Putin instructed his prosecutor’s office to put him on an Interpol “diffusion list” on October 17th – one day before the Canadian version of the U.S. Magnitsky Act became law.

Browder has spear-headed the international campaign against Russia –  over the killing of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky – who accused Russian officials of a massive tax-fraud – before he was beaten to death in a Moscow jail in 2009.

The Interpol notice means Browder cannot leave Britain – where he makes his home.

He had planned to travel to Canada on October 31st with members of Magnitsky’s family – so they could meet the Canadian parliamentarians who made Bill S-226 possible.