Labour is calling for urgent legislative changes after reports
suggest that the government will not be able to sanction Roman
Abramovich and other oligarchs for ‘weeks and months’ because the
government has failed to build a case against them.
More than a week after Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, the
UK government have sanctioned only 11 individuals.
The EU on Monday imposed sanctions on 26 more individuals over
Russia's invasion of Ukraine, meaning that restrictive measures
now apply to a total of 680 individuals and 53 entities. The
United States is also significantly ahead of the UK and is
preparing to impose new sanctions on a wider range of
individuals.
The UK government’s delay is in part explained by concessions it
made during the passage of the 2017 sanctions legislation, which
requires it to demonstrate that the “significant effect” that
sanctions will have on an individual are “appropriate.”
MP, Labour’s Shadow Foreign
Secretary, said:
“It is totally unacceptable that a week after Putin’s illegal
invasion of Ukraine just 11 oligarchs have faced sanctions by the
UK government. Ministers had months to prepare for this
eventuality, with the full support of Parliament, and there is no
excuse for their failure to introduce strong enough laws in the
first place.
“The government’s failure to keep pace with the EU and the US on
sanctions is allowing Putin-linked oligarchs to salvage hundreds
of millions in assets.
“Labour is urging the government to bring new legislation to the
House early next week, so the UK’s sanctions regime on
individuals can catch up with our Allies and partners. The
government must get a grip on this by cutting Putin and those
linked to his rogue regime out of our economic system as fast as
possible.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. Reports: Building sanctions case against
Abramovich and oligarchs ‘may take months’ | News | The Times
2. Source of 680 individuals and 53 entities being
sanctioned: Russia’s military aggression
against Ukraine: Council imposes sanctions on 26 persons and one
entity - Consilium (europa.eu)
3. US government announcement on widening of
sanctions: U.S. Treasury Takes Additional
Steps to Strengthen Compliance with Russia-Related Sanctions |
U.S. Department of the Treasury
