Britain became the first country to sanction Roman Abramovich yesterday, with ministers accusing him of having “blood on his hands” because of links to President Putin.
The oligarch has been formally barred from travelling to the UK and has had all his assets frozen, including Chelsea Football Club and his multi-million-pound property portfolio. He is banned from conducting financial transactions with any individuals or businesses in Britain.
Sponsored
Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, said: “Today’s sanctions show once again that oligarchs and kleptocrats have no place in our economy or society. With their close links to Putin they are complicit in his aggression. The blood of the Ukrainian people is on their hands. They should hang their heads in shame.”
UK sanctions seven more oligarchs it links to Kremlin
Chelsea sale put on hold, Britain might sell club
Trading suspended in Evraz shares
LONDON, March 10 (Reuters) - Britain imposed sanctions on Chelsea soccer club owner Roman Abramovich and Igor Sechin, chief executive of Russian oil giant Rosneft, hitting them with asset freezes and travel bans because of their links to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The two billionaires plus Oleg Deripaska and four other Russian oligarchs are the most high-profile tycoons to be added to the British sanctions list since Russia invaded Ukraine. The move follows criticism that Britain has been acting too slowly.
The action puts on ice Abramovich's plans to sell Premier League club Chelsea, effectively placing the current European champions under government control. The team can carry on playing but the government said it was open to selling the club so long as Abramovich himself did not benefit. read more
Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com
"There can be no safe havens for those who have supported Putin's vicious assault on Ukraine," Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. "We will be ruthless in pursuing those who enable the killing of civilians, destruction of hospitals and illegal occupation of sovereign allies."
There had been loud calls from British lawmakers for action to be taken against Abramovich and other Russian billionaires, with criticism that Johnson's government was not moving fast enough compared to the European Union and the United States.
London has long been a top destination for Russian money, with wealthy Russians using it as a luxury playground and educating their children at fee-paying schools. It has earned the nickname Londongrad.
Sechin, who Britain described as Putin's right-hand man, was already on the U.S. and EU sanctions lists and last week French authorities seized his yacht. read more
Since the invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow describes as a "special military operation", Britain has imposed sanctions on about 20 Russian-linked figures. The EU announced new sanctions on Wednesday against 14 more oligarchs, meaning its restrictions apply to 862 people and 53 entities. read more
15 BILLION POUNDS
The others added to the British list were Deripaska, who has stakes in En+ Group; Dmitri Lebedev, chairman of Bank Rossiya; Alexei Miller, chief executive of energy giant Gazprom; and Nikolai Tokarev, president of the Russia state-owned pipeline company Transneft.
EN+ said the announcement would have no impact on the group or its subsidiaries, and that Deripaska had surrendered majority ownership and control of the group as part of an agreement with the U.S. authorities in 2019.
In total, Britain said the seven figures, who with the exception of Abramovich had previously been sanctioned by the United States or the EU, had a collective net worth of 15 billion pounds ($19.74 billion).
Thursday's action means Abramovich, 55, is banned from carrying out transactions with any British individuals and businesses, and cannot enter or stay in Britain. His spokeswoman declined comment.
Abramovich, who has Israeli and Portuguese citizenship, became one of Russia's most powerful businessmen by earning fabulous fortunes after the 1991 break-up of the Soviet Union. Forbes has put his net worth at $13.3 billion.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich (R) watches his team during their English Premier League soccer match against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge in London March 22, 2014. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh
He bought Chelsea in 2003 for a reported 140 million pounds and his investment contributed hugely to the most successful era in the team's history as they won five Premier League titles, five FA Cups and the Champions League twice.
They beat Brazilian side Palmeiras in February to become FIFA Club World Cup champions for the first time, having defeated fellow English side Manchester City to become European champions last season.
Last week Abramovich announced he would sell Chelsea and donate money from the sale to help victims of the war in Ukraine. Johnson's spokesman said the government was open to selling the club but it would require another licence. read more
"If the club is sold, Abramovich will not benefit," sports minister Nadine Dorries told reporters. read more
The government has issued a special licence to allow Chelsea to play fixtures and pay staff, but will limit the sale of tickets and merchandise. read more
Anita Clifford, a lawyer who specialises in asset freezing and sanctions matters, said the measures temporarily deprived Abramovich of his assets but Chelsea could be sold with his and the government's agreement. The money could potentially go to help Ukrainian war victims.
"The proceeds...would be frozen too and would not simply flow to the designated person unless there was a licence or agreement in place to either cover this, or cover the proceeds going to a nominated beneficiary which both parties considered appropriate," she told Reuters.
Abramovich could apply to Britain's foreign office for an internal review of the asset freeze, or apply to the High Court in London for a review of the decision, a process that could take 18 months or longer, Clifford said.
The entry on the British sanctions list described Abramovich as "a prominent Russian businessman and pro-Kremlin oligarch who had enjoyed "a close relationship for decades" with Putin.
This association had brought Abramovich financial or material benefit from either Putin directly or the Russian government, the entry said.
It said he was "involved in destabilising Ukraine" and undermining its sovereignty and independence via the London-listed Russian steelmaker Evraz (EVRE.L) in which he is the biggest shareholder.
Evraz has been involved in providing financial services, or funds, goods or technology that could damage Ukraine's independence including providing steel that might be used to make Russian tanks, the British treasury said.
The company said it did not regard Abramovich as someone who exercised control over the business, and rejected the statement it had been involved in undermining Ukraine's independence.
It said sanctions should not apply to the company, whose London-listed shares plummeted 16% after the measures were announced leading to Britain's financial watchdog to temporarily suspend trading.
($1 = 0.7599 pounds)
Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com
Reporting by Kate Holton, Alistair Smout, and Paul Sandle; writing by Michael Holden; editing by William James, Frank Jack Daniel, Angus Macswan and Mark Heinrich
Avon and Somerset Police said it did not believe the case was related to terrorism.
North Bristol Neighbourhood Inspector Lorna Dallimore said: "I appreciate the concern this incident may have caused residents and patients.
"I'd like to reassure them there were no injuries and there is no risk to the wider public."
A major incident was declared by North Bristol NHS Trust, which meant ambulances were diverted to other A&Es, and all non-essential staff were told to leave the site.
Southmead is one of Bristol's main hospitals and is in the north of the city.
A £430m rebuild was finished in 2014. The building has capacity for 800 beds and has 24 operating theatres.
The Ukrainian ambassador to the UK has said he does not believe a huge number of refugees fleeing the country will come to Britain as many want to stay in bordering nations "closer to their roots".
Appearing in front of the Home Affairs Commons Committee, Vadym Prystaiko told MPs that Ukrainian refugees want to get back to their homes as soon as possible and that "the UK is a bit far for Ukrainians" to travel.
But he stressed that those Ukrainians who have tried to come to the UK have faced "bureaucratic hassles".
'Most Ukrainians will naturally stay close to their homes'
Advertisement
Mr Prystaiko told MPs that for years his fellow citizens have faced visa processing problems in order to travel to the UK, with even his wife initially being unable to get a visa to join him, despite his role as the nation's representative.
Addressing the committee on Wednesday morning, the he said Ukraine was "happy" that the UK had offered to extend visas of Ukrainians already in Britain and for the "reunification of the families".
More on Russia
Related Topics:
"The people are very happy and very thankful. What we are now coming to is the most sensitive issue, which is how there (could be) more possibilities for people who have no connections to UK citizens and now want to come here," the diplomat said.
"I want to tell you straight away that the natural place for Ukrainians is close to most of our Slavic tribe, if I can put it like that - independent nations like Poland and Slovakia, where people do not have any language barrier.
"Most Ukrainians will naturally stay close to their homes, to their roots, because families are unfortunately split - the elderly, the women with kids, fled Ukraine when most of the men and women are fighting back home."
Image:People in Ukraine have been seeking refuge in counties including Poland and Hungary
Ukrainians do not want to be 'burden' on UK system
Mr Prystaiko added that he did not believe "people will stay long enough to really be placed and rooted here", but welcomed the offer of NHS treatment for people coming to the UK.
He said Ukrainians did not want to be a "burden" on the UK system, adding: "Most of these people are well educated and have their own business ideas - most of them are in professions which can be done remotely, like IT."
The diplomat told MPs that around "50,000 to 60,000" Ukrainians were based in Britain prior to the outbreak of war, and that he would expect "100,000 at least to come here to their relatives".
Mr Prystaiko also said that the visa requirement should be lifted for those wanting to flee conflict in their home nation.
"Very sensitive, I understand how sensitive it is for your society, especially after the immigration crisis, refugee crisis with Syrians, which we believe was manufactured by Russia pushing out these people from Syria, flooding with immigration, wave after wave, to Europe," he told the committee.
"That would definitely resolve all the issues, but how reasonable, how justified it is with your own system, that's frankly for you to decide.
"We will be happy if all the barriers are dropped for some period of time when we can get maximum (numbers) of people, then we will deal with that."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
0:50
'We're not involving ourselves in the fighting'
Shapps defends visa controls
His comments came after Cabinet minister Grant Shapps defended the UK's insistence on visa controls for Ukrainians.
"I think you would expect us to be wanting to check people's status before they come in," he told Sky News.
"We know that Russia are involved in all manner of operations so it's absolutely right to check that somebody is coming from Ukraine and know who is coming to this country, essentially, and that's what we are doing."
Meanwhile, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper told Sky News biometric security checks are important - but Labour wants the government to set up more emergency centres on borders.
Some 760 visas now granted to fleeing Ukrainians
Mr Shapps also confirmed to Sky News that some 760 visas have now been granted to fleeing Ukrainian refugees enabling them to come to the UK, with 22,000 applications "on their way through".
"No country has given more humanitarian aid to Ukraine than the UK, in the world. We have given £400m, in addition the British people have been incredibly generous as well," he told Sky News.
"Geographically we are, of course, spaced further to the West and President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian government have told me that they do not want people to move far away, if at all possible, from the country because they want people to be able to come back.
"We are really leaning into this, at the same time respecting Ukraine's wishes, the government's wishes, not to pull people a long way away from Ukraine."
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is due to update MPs on the situation in Ukraine in the Commons this afternoon.
A report published by the Independent Expert Panel into the former Commons speaker's conduct states Mr Bercow "has been a serial liar" and "a serial bully".
It adds that his behaviour "fell very far below that which the public has a right to expect from any member of parliament" and that were he still a sitting MP, it would have been recommended that "he should be expelled by resolution of the House".
Image:Mr Bercow has described the investigation into his behaviour as 'amateurish' and rejected the report's findings
Panel deems Bercow a 'serial bully'
Advertisement
"As it is, we recommend that he should never be permitted a pass to the parliamentary estate," the report concludes.
He has repeatedly denied the allegations against him, previously claiming: "I have never bullied anyone, anywhere at any time in any way."
Speaking to Sky News following the release of the panel's findings, Mr Bercow accused the Independent Expert Panel of choosing to use "hyperbolic" language "in pursuit of headlines in a very choc-a-bloc media environment".
"I accept that they have a right to make a decision, but I am not obliged to accept that its decision is right. It isn't and I don't," the former speaker said.
"As far as I am concerned I have told the truth from the start of the investigation to its finish."
What are the panel's main findings?
There was a 'marked abuse of power and authority' by John Bercow
Mr Bercow's behaviour was motivated 'by a rooted and prejudiced hostility' against the complainants
The former speaker's conduct 'was repeated and sustained'
Mr Bercow acted as a 'serial bully' and 'serial liar'
The three complainants 'were victims'
Mr Bercow's behaviour 'fell very far below that which the public has a right to expect from any Member of Parliament'
The former speaker 'should be expelled' from the Commons if he was still an MP
Mr Bercow 'should never be permitted a pass to the Parliamentary estate'
The Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme's bullying and harassment policy was breached repeatedly and extensively
There is 'no doubt' that victims were telling the truth
Bercow accuses panel of using 'hyperbolic' language
Mr Bercow told Sky News "the so-called Independent Expert Panel" ignored "huge swathes of evidence", adding that "hearsay was preferred over testimonies of people present at the time".
Asked if he would apologise in the wake of the report, he said: "I don't believe in faux apologies."
In a statement released at the same time as the panel's findings were published, Mr Bercow accused the investigation into allegations he acted improperly towards staff during his time as Commons speaker of being "a protracted, amateurish and unjust process".
Denouncing the report as "a travesty of justice", the former speaker added: "This has been a protracted, amateurish and unjust process which would not have survived five minutes' scrutiny in court.
"To describe what I have experienced as a kangaroo court is grossly insulting to kangaroos. None of the investigators is a lawyer and the commissioner overseeing them has no expertise whatsoever in the consideration of alleged bullying."
Image:The panel's report described Mr Bercow as 'a serial liar' and 'a serial bully'
Bercow accused of an 'abuse of power'
The Independent Expert Panel, which determines sanctions in cases where bullying complaints have been brought against MPs, upheld the findings of Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Kathryn Stone.
The parliamentary commissioner for standards had upheld 21 allegations against Mr Bercow across the three complainants, relating to the period 2009 to 2014.
The panel rejected appeals by Mr Bercow against allegations he bullied three people - Lord Lisvane, the former Commons clerk, Angus Sinclair and Kate Emms - and accused him of an "abuse of power".
The Independent Expert Panel concluded that the bullying and harassment policy "was breached repeatedly and extensively by the most senior member of the House of Commons".
No surprise former speaker has responded with indignation and defiance
The man who presided over Parliament for a decade and lived inside its walls, has now been banned from holding a pass for the institution he loves.
Bullying allegations dogged the latter years of Mr Bercow’s reign, with former staff speaking publicly about their experiences.
A small number of MPs blocked an earlier investigation.
This report, however, finally backs up the testimony of his three victims, and is more damning than many expected. It concludes not just that John Bercow is a 'serial bully', but a ‘serial liar’ as well.
The judgment will likely speed up Parliament's glacial change in culture, making it clear to MPs and peers that bullying is unacceptable and they will be held to account.
Many Brexiteer Conservatives will be delighted by today’s judgment: they believe that during the tortuous parliamentary proceedings after the EU referendum Mr Bercow failed in his primary duty to be impartial.
His decision to join the Labour Party last year (after entering Parliament as a Conservative) and to lambast Boris Johnson in the media cemented those feelings of naked hostility.
Perennially outspoken, it is no surprise the former speaker has responded today with indignation and defiance.
It is, nonetheless, an embarrassing and painful conclusion to a long, and occasionally glittering, political career.
It is hard to see how Mr Bercow can now play any meaningful role in public life.
Bercow first speaker not to be offered peerage in over 200 years
Its report continued: "It is for historians to judge whether the respondent was a successful reforming speaker of the House of Commons.
"However, there was no need to act as a bully in order to achieve that aim. A great office can be filled forcefully and effectively without descending to such behaviour."
Mr Bercow was the longest-serving speaker since Edward FitzRoy, who served nearly 15 years in post between 1928 and 1943.
He presided over numerous Brexit rows in the Commons and, upon his departure, became the first speaker not to be offered a peerage in over 200 years.
Mr Bercow also accused Ms Stone of hiding behind parliamentary privilege to "duck scrutiny and legal challenge".
Image:Mr Bercow is the first former speaker in over 200 years to be rejected a peerage on his departure from the role
Complainant describes 'consistently upsetting' period of her career
In a statement, Ms Stone said: "I am grateful to the Independent Expert Panel for their detailed and considered report regarding the conduct of Mr Bercow.
"Their report upholding my findings demonstrates my ongoing commitment to ensuring that the investigations under my oversight, and my subsequent decisions, are independent, impartial, thorough and fair."
One of the complainants Ms Emms said she was "supremely glad to be vindicated by the report".
"The impacts of the one and only genuinely horrible, undermining and consistently upsetting period of my career has spread into all areas of my life," she said.
"Stress, anxiety and loss of confidence sent me home on sick leave and affected how I saw myself and how I felt I was seen by family, friends and colleagues."
Downing Street said it hopes the finding that Mr Bercow was guilty of bullying staff will encourage others at Westminster who suffer harassment to come forward.
A three-month-old girl died after being attacked by what was believed to have been a husky dog, police have said.
Paramedics were called to Ostler's Plantation, near Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, at 23:13 GMT on Sunday.
A man and woman, aged 54 and 40, were held on suspicion of being in charge of a dog which was out of control and have been released under investigation.
Police said they would not be naming the baby, but added she died after being injured in the dog attack.
The fatal incident happened in the woodland site's car park area which remained cordoned-off on Monday while police carried out their investigations.
The dog was currently in isolation in kennels while forensic examinations were carried out, according to Lincolnshire Police.
A force spokesperson said: "This remains a live investigation and we are continuing to determine the circumstances which led to the baby girl's death.
"We ask people not to speculate while we make those inquiries."
Laying flowers near the scene on Tuesday, local resident James Carter said: "It's awful isn't it? We couldn't get into the car park. All we could see was the van and tape and various officers."
/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/NWRH3YVZRVJ55CB5R43VYHHRSY.jpg)
