Sanctions against Russia
8 Commons Library Research Briefing, 22 March 2023
The UK Government described its sanctions regime as "encouraging Russia to
cease actions destabilising Ukraine or undermining or threatening the
territorial integrity, sovereignty or independence of Ukraine".
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Under the
regime, as first introduced, sanctions could only be imposed on companies
and individuals with a direct involvement in the destabilisation of Ukraine.
This has changed with following Russian military action in Ukraine.
Magnitsky sanctions
In July 2020 25 Russian officials were also designated under the UK's newly
established Global human rights sanctions regime (PDF), more commonly
referred to as Magnitsky sanctions.
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Those individuals were sanctioned for
their involvement in the mistreatment and death of Sergei Magnitsky, who
uncovered widespread Russian corruption by a group of Russian tax and
police officials.
5
In December 2020, a further three Chechen officials and one entity were
designated under the Global Human Rights Sanctions regime for their role in
the campaign of persecution against Chechnya's LGBT+ community.
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Global anti-corruption sanctions regime
In April 2021, 12 Russian nationals were sanctioned under the UK's new Global
anti-corruption sanctions regime for their role in the serious corruption
uncovered by Sergei Magnitsky.
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Chemical weapons sanctions regime
In January 2019, EU foreign ministers, including the UK Foreign Secretary,
imposed sanctions on the leadership of the Russian military intelligence
organisation, the GRU, and the two GRU operatives charged with carrying out
a nerve agent attack in Salisbury in 2018.
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A further 13 Russian nationals have been sanctioned under the UK's
autonomous chemical weapons sanctions regime, for their involvement in the
3
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, UK sanctions relating to Russia
4
Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK announces first sanctions under new global human rights
regime, 6 July 2020
5
See Commons Library, Magnitsky legislation, 20 July 2020.
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HLWS 634, Designations made under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, 14 December
2020
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Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Press release, 26 April 2021
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Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Press release, 21 January 2019
