Roman Abramovich
(Picture: PA)Sir Keir Starmer piled pressure on Boris Johnson on Wednesday to impose sanctions on Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, asking in Parliament “why on earth” had this not already happened.
Highlighting the atrocities being committed by Russian forces in Ukraine, the Labour leader told MPs: “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 is 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?”
Mr Johnson said it was not appropriate for him to comment on individual cases “at this stage”.
He added: “But what I can say, I stand by what I said in the House and what we put on the record.”
However, the Prime Minister insisted that the sanctions already announced were having an impact in Moscow.
He stressed that the ownership of properties in the UK by companies had already been exposed, 275 individuals had already been sanctioned, and in addition a “full list” would be published of all people associated with the Putin regime.
“The vice is tightening on the Putin regime and it will continue to tighten,” he added.
Sir Keir followed up by asking about another Russian oligarch, Igor Shuvalov, Russia’s former Deputy Prime Minister, who owns two flats in London which the Labour leader said was worth £11m.
“He is on the EU sanctions list, but he’s not on the UK sanctions list. When will the Prime Minister sort this out?" Sir Keir said.
He added Mr Shuvalov’s ownership of the flats via a shell company was only known thanks to information disclosed by Putin opponent Alexei Navalny, who is in jail in Russia. “I am ashamed we only know about Shuvalov’s flats because a dissident risked his life.”
But Mr Johnson again defended the steps the UK has taken so far on sanctions, saying: "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."
Law firms representing oligarchs will "face sanctions" if they fail to comply with the sanctions regime against Putin’s allies, Mr Johnson told Parliament.
Conservative Bob Seely had told MPs: "Key oligarchs enforce the Kremlin’s hybrid conflict. In Britain one of its aims is to ensure safe passage for money flows offshore whilst law firms intimidate into silence those who would investigate, be it the media or even the National Crime Agency.
"Does the Prime Minister understand this is how state corruption happens and this is systemic, planned subversion? Does he realise the seriousness of what has been happening with the law firms and the finance companies in recent years?"
The Prime Minister replied: "The law firms in this country are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. They were reminded on February 23 the need to comply with sanctions regulations and legislation.
"There are regular checks to ensure they are doing so. They have responsibilities under that regime to safeguard the UK and to protect the reputation of the United Kingdom legal services industry. Cleary they will face sanctions if they fail to do so."
