UK sanctions 386 members of Russian parliament’s lower house

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) - Britain on Friday sanctioned the members of Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, a government statement said.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has sanctioned 386 members of the Duma “for their support for the Ukrainian breakaway regions of Luhansk and Donetsk,” according to the statement.

The new sanctions will “ban those listed from travelling to the UK, accessing assets held within the UK and doing business here.”

The statement further said that Duma recognized the independence of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, which are part of Ukrainian sovereign territory, and “authorised the permanent presence of Russian military there, acting as a pretext for Russia’s invasion.”

“We’re targeting those complicit in (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and those who support this barbaric war,” Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said.

“We will not let up the pressure and will continue to tighten the screw on the Russian economy through sanctions.”

Reiterating UK’s support to Ukraine, the statement from British Foreign Office said the “designations announced today build on yesterday’s crack down on key oligarchs from Putin’s inner circle, and the introduction of new UK powers to detain Russian aircraft and ban the export of aviation items.”

Since the start of Russia-Ukraine war, the UK has sanctioned more than 500 of Russia’s “most significant and high-value individuals, entities and subsidiaries, bringing the total now covered by the UK’s sanctions list to over 800,” the government statement said.

“This includes travel bans and asset freezes applied to 18 of Russia’s leading oligarchs, with a combined worth in excess of £30 billion ($39.3 billion),” it added.