The United Kingdom sanctions more than 40 people for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, including the Minister of Justice

Among those sanctioned are 29 Russian governors and senior officials from the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk

MADRID, 26 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Government of the United Kingdom announced this Tuesday sanctions against more than 40 people in relation to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, unleashed on February 24 by order of the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, including the Russian Minister of Justice, Konstantin Chuichenko, 29 governors of the country and several high officials of the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk.

Thus, he stressed that among those sanctioned are the Prime Minister of the Donetsk People's Republic, Vitali Khotsenko, and the Vice President of the Lugansk People's Republic, Vladislav Kuznetsov, whom he accuses of "undermining the territorial integrity of Ukraine" and of "being sent to enforce Russia's policies in the invaded region, support Putin's plans to illegally annex more territory from Ukraine, and use bogus referendums to falsely legitimize his occupation."

The British Executive has highlighted in its statement that 29 Russian governors have been sanctioned and has stated that all of them "have received an order from the Kremlin to deliver funds to the so-called popular republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, facilitating the Russian occupation and trying to seize territory from Ukraine ".

In this regard, he stressed that those sanctioned also include Chuichenko and the Russian Deputy Minister of Justice, Oleg Sviridenko, whom he accuses of "repressing their own people by acting against those who speak out against the war." "They are expanding their power to suppress the freedom of expression of Russian citizens by passing a new law that expands the criteria on 'foreign agents' to include anyone the authorities declare to be 'under foreign influence,'" he explained.

Among those sanctioned are also Sarvar and Sanjar Ismailov, cousins ​​of the Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov, who maintains close ties with the Kremlin, while stressing that "both have significant interests in the United Kingdom and are believed to own homes in Highgate and Hampstead Heath ".

Britain has said it is also imposing sanctions, in coordination with the European Union (EU), against two groups of Syrian citizens, including one responsible for recruiting Syrian citizens to fight in the war in Ukraine. The second group is accused of supporting Syrian President Bashar al Assad, an ally of Russia.

"We will not stand by and watch Kremlin-appointed state actors repress the people of Ukraine and the freedom of their own people," said British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. "We will continue to impose harsh sanctions against those who try to legitimize Putin's illegal invasion until Ukraine prevails," she concluded.