Law firms representing oligarchs will “face sanctions” if they fail to comply with the sanctions regime against Putin’s allies, Boris Johnson has said.
The Prime Minister made the claim during Prime Minister’s Questions after being pressed by Conservative MP Bob Seely to address the “seriousness” of law firms advocating for oligarchs with links to Putin.
The Isle of Wight MP said: “Key oligarchs enforce the Kremlin’s hybrid conflict.
British MP Bob Seely gestures during a meeting on Ukraine following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, at the House of Commons.
UK PARLIAMENT/JESSICA TAYLOR
“In Britain one of its aims is to ensure safe passage for money flows offshore whilst law firms intimidate into silence those who would investigate, be it the media or even the National Crime Agency.
“Does the Prime Minister understand this is how state corruption happens and this is systemic, planned subversion?
“Does he realise the seriousness of what has been happening with the law firms and the finance companies in recent years?”
The Prime Minister replied: “The law firms in this country are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. They were reminded on February 23 the need to comply with sanctions regulations and legislation.
“There are regular checks to ensure they are doing so.
“They have responsibilities under that regime to safeguard the UK and to protect the reputation of the United Kingdom legal services industry.
“Clearly they will face sanctions if they fail to do so.”
On Tuesday during a debate on sanctions against the Kremlin and its allies, Mr Seely said that “Putin’s henchmen” had teamed up “with amoral lawyers” from the UK.
Last Friday, MPs were reportedly told that London law firms were delaying sanctions levelled against their Russian oligarch clients during a briefing from Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.
Elsewhere at PMQs, Labour former minister Chris Bryant called for sanctions on more individuals.
He said: “Putin is the only enemy but I do feel ashamed. The United Kingdom signed the Budapest Accord in 1994, guaranteeing the territorial integrity of Ukraine.”
Pointing towards heraldic shields in the House of Commons chamber commemorating each of the MPs killed during both World Wars, Mr Bryant added: “The 23 men who once sat on these benches gave their lives for plucky little Belgium. They have shields down that end. Twenty-two did the same for Poland.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street with Ukraine's Ambassador to the United Kingdom Vadym Prystaiko ahead of Johnson attending Prime Minister's Questions in London, Britain.
TOBY MELVILLE
“They have shields down this end. And we are not guaranteeing the territorial integrity of Ukraine. I don’t want war, nobody wants war. We are not even sanctioning Sergei Shoygu, the Russian defence minister, yet. Nor Igor Osipov, the commander of the Black Sea fleet.”
The MP for Rhondda went on to name other individuals including Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, adding: “Why don’t we use parliamentary privilege to get this out there so the lawyers can’t attack the sanctions that we must surely bring, rapidly, today?”
Mr Johnson said the whole House will understand his feelings and his frustration “that no country in the West is going directly to the support of the Ukrainians with direct military assistance”, but insisted “that is a reality that we simply have to accept”.
He added: “Because the consequences of a direct confrontation between the UK and and Russia would be I think, and indeed other Western countries and Russia, would not be easy to control.
“And if I can repeat the point I made earlier, I think they would play directly into Putin’s narrative.”