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The Foreign Secretary announced sanctions that target corrupt political figures, those violating human rights, and perpetrators of sexual-violence in conflict.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has today (9 December) announced a new wave of sanctions that targets corrupt actors, and those violating and abusing human rights, as well as perpetrators of sexual violence in conflict.
This wave, co-ordinated with international partners, marks International Anti-Corruption Day and Human Rights Day.
The package includes individuals and entities involved in a wide range of grievous activities – including the torture of prisoners, the mobilisation of troops to rape civilians, and systematic atrocities.
These sanctions demonstrate the UK’s commitment to defend free societies and the human rights of everyone, everywhere.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:
It is our duty to promote free and open societies around the world.
Today our sanctions go further to expose those behind the heinous violations of our most fundamental rights to account.
We are committed to using every lever at our disposal to secure a future of freedom over fear.
Since gaining new powers following our exit from the EU, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has used targeted sanctions across multiple regimes to hold those committing these egregious acts, whether in Russia, Iran, Myanmar, or elsewhere, to account.
Today’s sanctions include targets from 11 countries across 7 sanctions regimes – the most that the UK has ever brought together in 1 package.
As part of today’s package, the UK has designated 8 individuals under our Global Human Rights regime, which allows the UK to stop those involved in serious human rights abuses and violations from entering the country, channelling money through UK banks, or profiting from our economy. These sanctions include:
The UK is also using geographical sanctions regimes to ensure that violators of human rights are held to account.
10 Iranian officials connected to Iran’s judicial and prison systems, have been sanctioned.
This includes 6 individuals linked to the Revolutionary Courts that have been responsible for prosecuting protestors with egregious sentences including the death penalty.
In addition, Ali Cheharmahali, and Ghloamreza Ziyayi, former directors of the Evin Prison, in Tehran, a facility notorious for the mistreatment of both Iranian and foreign detainees, have been sanctioned. Allah Karam Azizi, warden of Razee Shahr Prison, has also been sanctioned.
The UK has also sanctioned the Russian Colonel Ibatullin for his role as the commander of the 90th Tank Division, which has been on the front line since Russia began its illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Sexual violence in conflict, which is currently happening in at least 18 active conflicts around the world, is an abhorrent act and and prohibited by international law.
In many cases it is used as a deliberate method of warfare. Six individuals and entities are being sanctioned today – utilising one of the tools at the UK’s disposal to hold perpetrators of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) to account.
Amongst those sanctioned today are Gordon Koang Biel and Gatluak Nyang Hoth, the County Commissioners for Koch and Mayendit in South Sudan. Both individuals were involved in the conflicts in the Unity State between February and May 2022, and mobilised troops to rape civilians.
The Katiba Macina group, also known as the Macina Liberation Front, in Mali, has been sanctioned. The group is known for perpetrating sexual violence, including the organisation of forced marriages
Today’s sanctions also target those involved in the Myanmar military junta. The security forces are known for committing systematic atrocities against the people of Myanmar, including massacre, torture, and rape. Designations include:
The UK is also today using its Global Anti-Corruption regime to sanction an additional 5 individuals.
Lining their pockets through corruption and theft, corrupt actors have a corrosive effect on the communities around them – undermining democracy and depriving countries of vital resources for their own gain.
As a result, over 2% of global GDP is lost to corruption every single year.
The UK is using sanctions to tackle serious corruption. Today’s designations include:
The UK will continue to use all levers at our disposal to tackle corrupt actors and morally reprehensible violations and abuses, including sexual violence, of human rights around the world.
Today’s designations further develops the UK’s use of sanctions this year to tackle serious human rights violations and abuses and corrupt actors.
In Russia the UK has sanctioned over 1,200 individuals, including members of the Russian military responsible for atrocities. In Iran our sanctions have targeted the officials responsible for heinous human rights violations.
The UK supports those seeking to uphold these values of freedom and democracy, including through:
All individuals are subject to an asset freeze and travel ban. All entities are subject to an asset freeze.
Crimea and Russia:
Iran:
Kosovo:
Mali:
Moldova:
Myanmar:
Nicaragua:
Pakistan:
Serbia:
South Sudan:
Uganda:
The Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime can be used to impose sanctions for involvement in serious violations or abuses of 3 human rights:
The Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions Regime can be used to impose sanctions for involvement in:
The Iran (Human Rights) Sanctions Regime can be used to impose sanctions for involvement in:
The Mali Sanctions Regime can be used to impose sanctions for involvement in a number of activities, including:
The Myanmar Sanctions Regime can be used to impose sanctions for involvement in:
The Russia Sanctions Regime can be used to impose sanctions for involvement in:
The South Sudan Sanctions Regime can be used to impose sanctions for involvement in a number of activities, including:
Asset freeze: an asset freeze prevents any UK citizen, or any business in the UK, from dealing with any funds or economic resources which are owned, held or controlled by the designated person. UK financial sanctions apply to all persons within the territory and territorial sea of the UK and to all UK persons, wherever they are in the world. It also prevents funds or economic resources being provided to or for the benefit of the designated person.
Travel ban: a travel ban means that the designated person must be refused leave to enter or to remain in the United Kingdom, providing the individual is an excluded person under section 8B of the Immigration Act 1971.
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