January 29 – The British government has been challenged by a group of lawmakers to impose sanctions on two billionaire oligarchs linked to English top-flight clubs following the detention of Russia’s opposition leader Alexei Navalny that has caused outcry among western democracies.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich (pictured) and Alisher Usmanov, who has ties with Everton, were named by Navalny as being on a list of those who should be targeted by Western governments in a bid to curb human-rights abuses by the regime of Vladimir Putin.
They were described in the list as being among “key enablers and beneficiaries of Russian kleptocracy, with significant ties/assets in the West”.
Dame Margaret Hodge of Britain’s Labour party, and the Liberal Democrats’ foreign affairs spokeswoman Layla Moran have both challenged the Government to take action.
Navalny was detained at a Moscow airport earlier this month after spending five months in Germany recovering from nerve agent poisoning that he blames on Moscow.
Speaking in the UK’s House of Commons, Dame Margaret said: “The best way in which we can show our support for Alexei Navalny is not by words but by actions, not by investigations but by convictions.
“Navalny himself has said that he wants the international community to use sanctions against complicit Russian kleptocrats who live outside Russia.
“He has named Abramovich and Usmanov, both of whom have considerable wealth, property and links to English football clubs.”
Foreign Office minister Wendy Morton added: “When will we see a proper list of the ill-gotten gains that President Putin has stolen off the Russian people over the last 20 years?”
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