In reaction to the unlawful sham elections held in Ukraine by the Russian state, the UK has issued a set of penalties.
Top Russian officials who enforced the illegitimate ballots in four areas of Ukraine are the targets of sanctions, along with “Putin’s favorite PR firm.”
Oligarchs with a combined worldwide net worth of £6.3 billion and board members of significant state-owned institutions were also subject to sanctions.
In reaction to the Russian dictatorship forcing phony referendums in four areas of Ukraine, a blatant breach of international law, including the UN charter, the Foreign Secretary today (September 26) announced 92 penalties.
These fake referendums were organized by the Russian government in a last-ditch effort to seize territory and legitimize its unlawful war. The procedure resembles their 2014 strategy in Crimea, which included intimidation, deceit, and phony outcomes.
These referendums severely violate Ukraine’s territorial integrity and political independence since they do not reflect the people of Ukraine’s expressed desire.
James Cleverly, the foreign secretary, remarked
Sham elections conducted under duress cannot be free or fair, and the results of such elections can never be accepted. In the regions of Ukraine that Russia has occupied, they adhere to a blatant pattern of brutality, intimidation, torture, and forced deportations.
The persons behind these fraudulent ballots as well as those who continue to support the aggressive war of the Russian state will be the targets of today’s penalties. We support the Ukrainian people and will do so for as long as it takes for their sovereignty to be restored.
The Russian government sent officials and accomplices to each of these temporarily controlled areas in order to carry out these phony referendums; 33 of these people are now being sanctioned. These consist of:
Sergei Yeliseyev is a Vice Admiral in the Russian Navy and the newly appointed Head of Government of Kherson by the Russian government. Yeliseyev has been undermining Ukraine’s independence ever since leaving the Ukrainian navy in 2014.
Ivan Kusov, the purported Luhansk People’s Republic’s Minister of Education and Science, was given the responsibility by LPR leader Pasechnik to “assist our educational institutions in effortlessly integrating into the educational system of Russia.”
Yevhen Balytskyi, the Russian-installed leader of the fictitious government in Zaporizhzhia, has been openly endorsing the Russian invasion since March. Balytskyi allegedly issued a decree allowing a vote on Zaporizhzhia’s membership in the Russian Federation in August.
The Deputy Chairman of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic is Evgeniy Solntsev.
Putin’s favorite PR firm, IMA Consulting, has also received approval. According to reports, IMA has been chosen to oversee the public campaigns for these fake referendums, both to promote their execution inside the four temporarily held areas and to project its fictitious validity throughout Russia.
The manufacturing of “tens of millions” of state papers, such as expedited passports in the temporarily held territory, is monopolized by the security document business Goznak, which has also been sanctioned.
In order to finance his war, Putin continues to depend on his cabal of billionaires and chosen elites. Four other oligarchs, with a combined worldwide net worth estimated at £6.3 billion, have also been sanctioned today for their involvement in industries of strategic importance and support for the Russian government.
These consist of:
The Kievskaya Ploshchad Group, a significant construction firm with operations all over Russia, is owned and controlled by God Nisanov and Zarakh Iliev, who are referred to as the “Kings of Russian real estate.” The two have a combined worldwide net worth of £2 billion.
The president and creator of Ural Mining and Metallurgic Company is Iskander Makhmudov. Makhmudov, a prominent metals mogul, is said to have a net worth of £2.7 billion worldwide.
Igor Makarov was the creator of Itera, the country’s first independent gas business, which was later acquired by state-owned Rosneft. He is also the president and owner of ARETI International Group, a significant oil and gas investor. Makarov is reported to be worth £1.6 billion.
As a clear reminder of the price of backing Putin’s regime, today’s package also contains 55 board members from state-affiliated organizations that continue to fund the Russian war machine. Those who were penalized include:
23 members of the management and board of directors of Gazprombank
16 directors and members of the Sberbank Executive Board and Supervisory Board
10 Sovcombank employees, including the deputy chairman and members of the management and supervisory boards
Any fake referendums or efforts to annex Ukraine’s sovereign territory will never be recognized by the UK. We stand united with our international partners in condemning the Russian government’s egregious actions.
Ukraine voted overwhelmingly for independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, and their ongoing brave resistance against Russian aggression clearly demonstrates their wish to remain an independent sovereign state. Together with our allies, we’ll keep pursuing targeted sanctions and putting consistent economic and political pressure on Russia.
Over 1,200 people and over 120 organizations have been sanctioned by the UK as of right now, including over 120 oligarchs with a combined estimated worldwide net worth of over £130 billion.
Background
asset seizure
Any UK resident or company operating there is prohibited from dealing with any money or other assets owned, held, or under the designated person’s control. Financial sanctions imposed by the UK are applicable to everyone who is on British soil, even those who are abroad. Additionally, it precludes the chosen individual from receiving money or other resources for their benefit.
prohibition on travel
In the event that the designated person is an excluded person as defined by section 8B of the Immigration Act of 1971, entry to enter or reside in the United Kingdom shall be denied.
travel restrictions
Recent legislation has made it illegal for any Russian aircraft to fly over or land in the UK and given the government the authority to deregister any aircraft that belong to identified Russian people or organizations, even if they are not on board. Additionally, UK ports are closed to Russian ships.