UK Sanctions 386 Russian Politicians Who Backed Putin’s Invasion Of Ukraine
3 min read
Liz Truss has announced that the UK is imposing sanctions on 386 members of the Russian parliament over their support for military action in Ukraine.
The foreign secretary said this latest round of sanctions, which brings the total number of individuals and entities targeted to over 800, would “continue to tighten the screw on the Russian economy”.
Under the new measures, the selected members of the Duma — the lower house of the Russian parliament — will be banned from travelling to the UK, doing business with British companies and accessing UK-based assets.
The 386 politicians were targeted after they voted in favour of recognising the independence of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions in Ukraine and basing Russian forces permanently in the area.
Their presence in the regions was used as a pretext for the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began in February.
The move mirrors the EU's decision to sanction 351 Duma members on the first day of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
“We’re targeting those complicit in Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and those who support this barbaric war,” Truss said today.
“We will not let up the pressure and will continue to tighten the screw on the Russian economy through sanctions.
“Together with our allies, we stand firmly beside our Ukrainian friends. We will continue to support Ukraine with humanitarian aid, defensive weapons and diplomatic work to isolate Russia internationally.”
The latest intervention comes after the government announced it was imposing sanctions on Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich over his links to the Putin regime.
His one time business partner, leading industrialist Oleg Deripaska, was also sanctioned with the same measures.
Culture secretary Nadine Dorries confirmed that Chelsea FC would be granted a "special licence" which would "allow fixtures to be fulfilled, staff to be paid and existing ticket holders to attend matches while, crucially, depriving Abramovich of benefiting from his ownership of the club".
But the license will impose conditions on the club, including banning transfers of players in or out of the club.
The sale of tickets for future home and away fixtures will be also prohibited, but tickets which have already been purchased can still be used or resold.
The government said merchandise could not be sold at the clubs physical or online store, but said catering, stewarding and security would still be provided at home matches.
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe
