By Samantha Jones-
A LABOUR MP has claimed that the BBC cancelled an interview with him after pressure from oligarchs lawyers stifling free speech.
Chris Bryant claimed he had been due to appear on BBC 5 Live on Tuesday morning before the corporation cancelled his appointment due to
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Ahead of the planned interview time, originally schedulled for 7:30am, Bryant wrote on Twitter: “Interesting @bbc5live just cancelled an interview with me at 7.30 because their lawyers couldn’t vet what I was going to say beforehand.”
He added: “I guess some oligarchs’ lawyers are cracking down on free speech. Sad that broadcasters are playing their game.”
The Mp had last week said that Chelsea owner, Roman Abromavich should be not be allowed to own the football club, as he questioned the legality of some of the dealings that has contributed to his fortune.
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Today Bryant also suggested that Abromavich was trying to sell is £152m home due to fear it may be seized as part of wide sanctions currently being imposed on Russian oligarchs in the UK. It comes as the UK Government looks to fast-track plans to tackle “dirty money” and expose foreign oligarchs who launder their wealth through the UK’s property market.
Following the package of sanctions announced by Boris Johnson (below) last week, ministers will table the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Bill – previously expected later in the session – in Parliament on Tuesday.
The legislation will establish a new register of overseas entities requiring foreign owners of property in the UK to declare their true identity, in a move intended to ensure criminals cannot hide behind secretive webs of shell companies.
Under the legislation, people who fail to comply will have restrictions placed on selling the property, while those who are found to have broken the rules will face anything from fines of up to £500 a day to up to five years in prison.
Abromavich has not yet been targeted by the UK government in terms of sanctions, and it is not known whether he will be.
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