Over a week into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, sanctions are being placed on Russian oligarchs to put pressure on Vladimir Putin and the Russian economy.
The UK government has sanctioned asset freezes and travel bans on a number of super-wealthy oligarchs with close links to the Kremlin to “inflict maximum economic pain on Putin and his war machine”, Boris Johnson said.
So far, 13 individuals have been sanctioned.
1. Vladimir Putin
Putin
Putin
Who: The Russian leader.
Sanctions: Assets frozen for ordering the Russian invasion into Ukraine.
2. Sergei Lavrov
Who: Russia’s Foreign Minister.
Sanctions: Assets frozen for his involvement in the invasion and attempts to destabilise Ukraine.
3. Kirill Shamalov
Who: Putin’s former son-in-law and shareholder and deputy chairman of petrochemical firm Sibur.
Sanctions: Asset freeze and travel ban for his close links to the Kremlin and Putin.
4. Gennady Timchenko
Who: Major shareholder of Bank Rossiya
Sanctions: Asset freeze and travel ban for being involved in, engaging in, providing support for, or promoting any policy or action which destabilises Ukraine. And, for being associated with a person involved in destabilising Ukraine.
5. Boris Rotenberg
Who: Board member and major shareholder of Russian lender SMP Bank
Sanctions: Asset freeze and travel ban for having close personal ties to Putin and for being involved in obtaining a benefit from the Russian government.
6. Igor Rotenberg
Who: Chairman of transport company National Telematic Systems
Sanctions: Asset freeze and travel ban for having close familial ties to Putin and for benefiting from or supporting the Russian government.
7. Denis Bortnikov
Who: Deputy president and chairman of Russian state-owned lender VTB
Sanctions: Asset freeze and travel ban for having close family ties to the Kremlin.
8. Petr Fradkov
Who: Head of Russian state-owned Promsvyazbank
Sanctions: Asset freeze and travel ban
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9. Yury Slyusar
Who: General Director of UAC
Sanctions: Asset freeze and travel ban
10. Elena Georgieva
Who: Chair of Novikombank
Sanctions: Asset freeze and travel ban
11. Kirill Dmitriev
Who: CEO of Russia's RDIF sovereign wealth fund
Sanctions: Asset freeze and travel ban for obtaining a benefit from or supporting the Russian government
12. Igor Shuvalov
Who: Former first deputy prime minister, a former aide to Putin and chair of the management board of VEB
Sanctions: Asset freeze and travel ban for being a "core part of Putin's inner circle".
13. Alisher Usmanov
Who: Founder of USM Holdings, which works in mining, telecoms and tech.
Sanctions: Asset freeze and travel ban for having close links to the Kremlin.
Despite these sanctions, Labour leader Keir Starmer has criticised Johnson for the slow action and questioned why Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich has not yet faced any.
Other commentators and politicians have also called on the government to do more and have compared the UK to the EU.
The bla bla bla by British lawmakers about failing to impose sanctions is pathetic and shameful. We must now see the full unredacted Russia Report and commence investigations into Peers, MPs & ex-MPs of disclosed & undisclosed receipts of Russian money & gifts.— Jessica Simor QC (@Jessica Simor QC) 1646296476
Boris Johnson is deliberately letting oligarchs off the hook, lying about the extent of his sanctions and protecting Kremlin-linked money into the Tory Party. This is after repressing the Russia Report.\n\nIt is very alarming and needs this country to tackle it head-on.— Mike Galsworthy \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Mike Galsworthy \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1646297604
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