Sanctions against Russia
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collaborators in the referendums and imposing new export bans on certain
good and services (see above).
Collaborators in the referendum
Thirty-three individuals identified as collaborators in the conduct of the
referendums have been sanctioned, including Sergei Yeliseyev and Yevhen
Balytskyi, the Heads of the Russian-installed governments in Kherson and
Zaporizhzhia respectively.
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The PR company IMA Consulting has also been designated for its role in the
public campaign surrounding the referendums, alongside security company
Goznak involved in the production of state documents, including expedited
passports, in the occupied regions.
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In a separate, albeit linked move, the UK also sanctioned the Governor of the
Russian Central Bank, Elvira Nabiullina, for her role in supporting Russia's
actions in Ukraine and specifically for facilitating the introduction of the
rouble as the official currency in the annexed regions.
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In November 2022, the UK also sanctioned the Chair of the Central Election
Commission, Ella Pamfilova, and the Head of the regional election
commission in Rostov, Andrey Burov, for their role in organising the
September referendums.
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Humanitarian exemptions
On 7 July 2022 the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation issued a
Humanitarian Activity General Licence under the Russia sanctions regime.
In recognition of the fact that humanitarian activities, including the delivery of
aid to Ukraine, may inadvertently be affected by the increasing number of
sanctions designations being made by the Government, a General Licence
has been issued which provides a blanket permission for the delivery of
humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. Humanitarian actors will no longer have
to apply for individual licences. However, there are a number of conditions.
Namely:
• Permissions only extend to an approved category of organisations.
• Funds for humanitarian assistance must not be funds or economic
resources that are owned, held or controlled by a sanctioned individual,
thereby preventing them from circumventing sanctions.
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The Heads of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic, Denis Pushilin and
Leonid Pascehnik are already on the UK sanctions list.
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Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Press release, 26 September 2022
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Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Press release, 30 September 2022
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Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Press release, 30 November 2022 and HM
Treasury, Financial Sanctions Notice (PDF), 30 November 2022
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Office for Financial Sanctions Implementation, Blog, 7 July 2022
