Ukraine targeted Alexander Lebedev as part of a wave of sanctions versus people encouraging of Russia’s war, positioning higher examination on the oligarch’s links to the UK federal government.
Lebedev, a Russian person who has actually not been approved by the UK in its efforts to stop the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine, purchased the Evening Standard and Independent papers more than a years earlier. He has actually hosted previous UK prime minister Boris Johnson at luxurious celebrations in London and at a rental property in Umbria.
Johnson offered Lebedev’s child a seat for life in the UK’s upper house of parliament in spite of security cautions from MI5, according to previous reporting by Tortoise. The Cabinet Office has actually informed parliament that “Lord Lebedev is a man of good standing.” Lord Lebedev has actually said that he has “no links to the Kremlin.”
Ukraine’s choice to sanction Lebedev was made by the nation’s National Security and Defence Council on October 19, 2022, however has actually not formerly been reported.
The Council’s secretary, Oleksiy Danilov, approved the choice, which was provided impact by a decree from President Volodymyr Zelensky. The decree mentions that the list must be provided to the UK and EU member states.
The sanctions obstruct Lebedev, who owns significant tourist possessions in occupied Crimea, from moving funds out of Ukraine and from making monetary deals within the nation.
The classification recommends that Lebedev is a “person directly or indirectly controlled by residents of a foreign state or acting in their interests”.
Tortoise has actually formerly reported on a dripped file from Italy’s External Intelligence and Security Agency, which mentions that Lebedev takes pleasure in “the favour and friendship of Vladimir Putin”.
Other people approved by Ukraine on the very same list consist of Zavizon Oleksiy Volodymyrovych, a leader in the Russian Ground Forces, and Sapelin Andrey Yuriyovych, a board member of Novikombank, among Russia’s biggest banks.
Canada approved Lebedev and 13 other Russian oligarchs a year ago for straight making it possible for “Vladimir Putin’s senseless war in Ukraine.”
The Canadian federal government informed Tortoise that it “works in coordination with like-minded countries to assess potential targets that would most impact Putin and his enablers,” including that it “continues to work with our international allies and partners and is monitoring the situation closely.”
The UK, which belongs to the Five Eyes intelligence alliance with Canada, has actually said it keeps “all sanctions under review and they are determined after careful consideration.” It has approved more than 1,500 individuals and entities considering that Russia attacked Ukraine.
Photograph Simon Dawson/Bloomberg by means of Getty Images
