The British government is under pressure to impose sanctions on Alexander Lebedev after Canada turned to the former KGB agent in a new wave of restrictions against the regime of Vladimir Putin.
The Russian billionaire businessman, who bought Britain’s Evening Standard and Independent a little over a decade ago, has been named in a new wave of Ottawa sanctions announced Friday.
Its latest restrictions include a ban on imports of Russian vodka, diamonds and caviar, according to Globe and Mail.
Labor has accused the government of delaying sanctions against those linked to the Russian president.
The party’s deputy leader, Angela Raynor, said: “Labor is clear that anyone with ties to the KGB must face sanctions. The Conservatives have been so slow and too lenient in imposing sanctions on those associated with Putin. There is now an extremely strong argument for Alexander Lebedev to face UK sanctions, and the government must urgently consider the evidence.
She accused Boris Johnson of having “a form when it comes to defending the Lebedevs”.
“He failed to release critical information related to the appointment of Alexander Lebedev’s son to the House of Lords, despite fears from the security services. “This is another case of a prime minister breaking the rules to protect his friends,” she said.
Lebedev’s connections with Johnson are well documented.
He is also a minority shareholder in the Russian opposition newspaper Novaya Gazeta. Evgeni holds the Evening Standard and the Independent and was appointed to the House of Lords in 2020, despite concerns expressed by MI5.
The government was accused of cover-up last week after rejecting Commons’ instructions to release information about the decision to make him a colleague, arguing that it would undermine the confidentiality of the nominees and could degenerate into political points.
He issued a statement in the Standard in February urging Putin to end the war.
The Canadian government says the ban on luxury goods and the addition of 14 oligarchs and Putin aides is in line with similar measures imposed by allies such as the United States and the European Union and will “help mitigate the potential of Russian oligarchs to circumvent restrictions.” other luxury goods markets ”.
The package of sanctions announced by Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie covers goods worth $ 75.7 million (£ 47 million) in 2021. It also bans the export of jewelry, art and kitchen utensils to Russia and restricts exports of “Goods that could be used in the production and manufacture of weapons”.
“The Putin regime must and will be held accountable for its unjustified actions,” Jolie said. “Canada, along with our allies, will be ruthless in our efforts to maintain pressure on the Russian regime until it is no longer able to wage war. We are steadfast in our support for Ukraine and its people. “
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According to Globe and Mail, other figures Canada has recently sanctioned include Gleb Frank, a leading owner of a Russian fishing company; his father, Sergei Frank, former Minister of Transport and former CEO of the Russian shipping company Sovcomflot; and Sergei Frank’s wife, Ksenia Frank, daughter of Gennady Timchenko, an oligarch and Putin aide.
David Davidovich, a close associate of Roman Abramovich, who was forced to sell Chelsea after being placed under sanctions in Britain, was also sanctioned.
The new wave of sanctions came after negotiations between the G7 and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Schmihal in Germany.
To date, Canada has sanctioned more than 1,000 individuals and legal entities from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion.
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