Boris Johnson’s attempt to clamp down on Russian wealth in the UK over Ukraine is too little too late, experts have warned.
On Tuesday 22 February, the UK authorities sanctioned three oligarchs and five Russian banks after Russia recognised the so-called ‘People’s Republics’ in eastern Ukraine – the two separatist entities that were set up after the Euromaidan revolution in 2014. After some British MPs expressed concern about the modest sanctions package announced, Johnson said that “this is only the first barrage” – and that the UK could go further if Russia takes more Ukrainian territory.
The oligarchs, Gennady Timchenko, Boris Rotenberg and his nephew, Igor Rotenberg, are all believed to have close ties with Vladimir Putin. All three are already sanctioned in the US. The banks are Rossiya, IS Bank, General Bank, Promsvyazbank and the Black Sea Bank.
