By Tony O’Reilly
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has today sanctioned 386 members of the Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, for their support for the Ukrainian breakaway regions of Luhansk and Donetsk. The new sanctions will ban those listed from travelling to the UK, accessing assets held within the UK and doing business here.
The Russian State Duma ratified treaties in February which recognised the independence of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions – part of Ukrainian sovereign territory – and authorised the permanent presence of Russian military there, acting as a pretext for Russia’s invasion.
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Foreign Secretary Liz Truss (pctured)said the politicians, members of the Duma – the lower house of the Russian parliament – are “complicit in Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine” because they all voted in support of the Ukrainian breakaway regions of Luhansk and Donetsk.
The Foreign Office said the new sanctions “will ban those listed from travelling to the UK, accessing assets held within the UK and doing business here”.
Ms Truss added: “We will not let up the pressure and will continue to tighten the screw on the Russian economy through sanctions.
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“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.”T
The politicians’ vote recognised the independence of the breakaway regions – part of Ukrainian sovereign territory – and authorised the permanent presence of Russian military there, acting as a pretext for Russia’s invasion, according to the Foreign Office.
The move follows the sanctioning of billionaire owner of Chelsea FC, Roman Abramovich, was sanctioned along with six other oligarchs, on Wednesday.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said he and other sanctioned oligarchs are “complicit in [Putin’s] aggression” and the “blood of the Ukrainian people is on their hands”.
The value of Russia’s economy has plummeted since the West imposed a wide range of economic sanctions, with the value of country’s currency – the ruble – at a record low.
The latest raft of measures brings the total number Russian individuals and businesses sanctioned by the UK since Russia’s invasion to more than 500.
There are now more than 800 on the UK’s Russian sanctions list in total and 400 of those are members of the Duma.
Downing Street declined to say whether any of the sanctioned Duma members have any assets in the UK.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister said: “The measures we put in place will ensure that any assets they do have in the UK will be frozen and they will no longer be able to travel to the UK or do any business here, but I wouldn’t go through the details of individuals.”
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said:
‘We’re targeting those complicit in Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and those who support this barbaric war. 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 designations announced today build on yesterday’s crack down on key oligarchs from Putin’s inner circle, and the introduction of new UK powers to detain Russian aircraft and ban the export of aviation items.
Since Russia’s invasion, the UK has sanctioned more than 500 of Russia’s most significant and high-value individuals, entities and subsidiaries, bringing the total now covered by the UK’s sanctions list to over 800. This includes travel bans and asset freezes applied to 18 of Russia’s leading oligarchs, with a combined worth in excess of £30 billion
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