London sanctions "49 entities", including 25 Russians and 20 Saudis

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The United Kingdom announced Monday the imposition of sanctions against 49 people and organizations, mainly Russian and Saudi, involved in assassinations like that of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. These nationals are now liable to a freeze on their assets and 'a visa ban. The blacklist was published as part of a new mechanism to punish those responsible for human rights violations.

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From our correspondent in London, Muriel Delcroix

These sanctions are unprecedented because it is the first time that the United Kingdom has acted independently of the EU following Brexit with a new regime of its own. The black list published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs includes in particular 25 Russians accused of being involved in the death in prison in 2009 of the lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who had exposed a vast tax evasion implying officials. The list also includes 20 Saudi nationals suspected of having played a role in the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul.

Announcing the government's decision before the deputies, the British chief of diplomacy Dominic Raab explained that these sanctions sent "  a clear message to those who have blood on their hands: they cannot come to this country to buy properties on King's Road or siphon their dirty money via British banks,  "warned the minister with reference to the London neighborhoods prized by wealthy foreign visitors.

A response to human rights groups that routinely accuse the UK of turning a blind eye to numerous violations in order to preserve its arms sales to Saudi Arabia or to remain a financial haven for them assets of many large fortunes on the planet.

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• United Kingdom
• Russia
• Saudi Arabia