By Tony O’Reilley-
Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has pressed Boris Johnson to sanction Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, and a former deputy prime minister to Vladimir Putin. The Labour leader used Prime Minister’s Questions to call for more action from the UK to “stand up to Putin and those who prop up his regime”.
Mr Johnson declined to comment on individual cases but insisted measures being brought forward to expose the ownership of properties will “continue to tighten the noose around Putin’s regime”. He added that a “full list of all those associated” with the Russian president’s regime will be published.
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Their exchanges came after the Ukrainian ambassador to the UK, Vadym Prystaiko, was given a standing ovation and cheered loudly by MPs after Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle confirmed he was in the Commons chamber. A spokesman for Russian-Israeli billionaire Mr Abramovich has previously claimed he is attempting to broker peace following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Sir Keir told the Commons: “We must stand up to Putin and those who prop up his regime. Roman Abramovich is the owner of Chelsea Football Club and various other high-value assets in the United Kingdom. He’s a person of interest to the Home Office because of his links to the Russian state and his public association with corrupt activity and practices.
“Last week, the Prime Minister said that Abramovich is facing sanctions. He later corrected the record to say that he isn’t. Well, why on earth isn’t he?”
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Mr Johnson said it is not “appropriate” for him to comment on individual cases at this stage.
He added: “But what I can say, and I stand by what I’ve said in the House and what we put on the record, but be there no doubt that the actions that we’ve already taken, that this House has already taken, are having an effect in in Moscow, and by exposing the ownership of properties, of companies in the way that we are, by sanctioning 275 individuals already, a further 100 last week, that the impact is being felt.”
The Prime Minister added: “What we will publish in addition is a full list of all those associated with the Putin regime.”
The exchanges occurred amid claims Mr Abramovich is selling off his £200m London property portfolio within days to avoid having his assets frozen in case he is sanctioned by Britain.
Mr Abramovich has totally denied being close to the Kremlin, and insists there is nothing about him that warrants being sanctioned. He has insisted he is involved in trying to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine.
Sir Keir went on to mention Russian former deputy prime minister Igor Shuvalov.
He said: “Last week, Putin summoned to the Kremlin the cronies who prop up his regime, they dip their hands in the blood of Putin’s war. Among them was Igor Shuvalov, Putin’s former deputy prime minister. Shuvalov owns two flats, not five minutes walk from this House. They’re worth over £11 million. He is on the EU sanctions list, but he’s not on the UK sanctions list. When will the Prime Minister sort this out?
Chesea football club owner: Roman Abromavich Image:PA
Mr Johnson replied: “I think the House should be proud of what we have done already. And I can tell him that there is more to be done. And thanks to the powers that this House and this Government has taken, we can sanction any individual, any company connected with the Putin regime.
“This Government was amongst the first in Europe to ban Aeroflot from our skies. This Government led the way last week in banning the use of Swift. And if he talked to any of our European partners, he would understand the leading role the UK has already paid and the impact that those sanctions are already having in Moscow.”
Sir Keir said Mr Shuvalov’s flats are registered under a company owned by the Russian politician and his wife, indicating that he should be sanctioned.
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