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Boris Johnson in the House of Commons: Debate on Russian oligarchs in Britain

2022-03-02T19:49:18.946Z


British MPs applauded the Ukrainian ambassador, but then there was a dispute in the House of Commons: Is Boris Johnson's government not taking tough enough action against Putin confidants in London?


AreaRead the video transcript expand here

The etiquette of the British House of Commons actually prohibits applause in Parliament.

This Wednesday, however, there was even a standing ovation - for the Ukrainian ambassador, who was listening to the weekly question time to the prime minister.

Blue and white ribbons and pieces of clothing and even a solidarity address in Ukrainian - the Ukraine war was omnipresent in the room and also the first topic of the weekly survey of the prime minister.

Despite everyone agreeing on aid to Ukraine during the war, the leader of the opposition put pressure on Boris Johnson on one question:

Keir Starmer, Labor Party leader


“Roman Abramovich owns Chelsea London football club and other assets in the UK.

He is a person of interest to the Interior Ministry because of his ties to the Russian state and his association with corruption.

Last week, the prime minister said that Abramovich would be sanctioned, but later retracted it.

Why on earth?”

Boris Johnson, UK Prime Minister


"It is not appropriate that I comment on individual cases at this time."

No concrete answer on the case of Abramovich, one of many super-rich and often pro-Putin Russians living in London.

Keir Starmer, Labor Party leader


»Last week Putin summoned influential supporters of his regime to the Kremlin.

The blood of Putin's war is on their hands.

Among them was Igor Shuvalov, Putin's former deputy prime minister.

Shuvalov owns two apartments less than a five-minute walk from here.

They are worth more than £11million.

He's on the EU's sanctions list, but not on the UK's."

The topic of the oligarchs has been accompanying Johnson for days.

During his state visit to Poland on Tuesday, he faced angry speeches from a Ukrainian anti-corruption activist.

Daria Kaleniuk, Founder Anti Corruption Action Center


»You are talking about further sanctions, Prime Minister, but Roman Abramovich is not sanctioned.

His children are not being bombed, they are in London.

Putin's children are in the Netherlands, in Germany, in their villas.

Were the villas confiscated?

Not that I know.

My family, my team on the other hand, we cry.

We don't know where to go.

That's what's happening, Prime Minister."

Johnson thanks the question but made no promises.

Different on Wednesday in Parliament.

There, the Prime Minister announced that the British government would publish a list of people closely associated with Putin.

Next week, the House of Commons will debate a bill that would make it impossible for foreign investors to hide behind front men and shell companies when buying real estate.

The British government has been criticized for weeks for its long-standing lax attitude towards Russian oligarchs and Putin confidants who invest money in Britain.

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2022-03-02

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