British government accused of laxity in the face of Russian money laundering

View of Eaton Square in London (illustrative image).

© TOLGA AKMEN/AFP

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1 min

A parliamentary committee publishes a scathing report for London, a city nicknamed for years "

 " for its very lenient approach to real estate investments by oligarchs.

The report speaks of “

”.

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With our correspondent in London,

"

" that it took a war for the government to act, stings the powerful parliamentary foreign affairs committee.

In a report, he denounces the lack of preparation and foresight which has led the oligarchs to consider London as a " 

 " to launder their dirty money by investing in real estate.

Until 2018, any foreign citizen, not just Russians, could obtain a visa in exchange for a few million pounds injected into the British economy.

Penalties too late

Therefore, by its " 

 ", the government has helped to finance the war in Ukraine, accuses the committee led by Tom Tugendhadt, a conservative opposed to Boris Johnson.

Certainly, since then, the government has sanctioned the oligarchs and it has given up its policy of “ 

”.

But it is still too little and too late, according to the report.

The actions do not follow the government's eloquent rhetoric.

Boris Johnson and his ministers regularly speak out against Vladimir Putin and his war.

The committee recommends more transparency and resources for the national organized crime agency and the anti-fraud office.

► To listen also: Accents of Europe - In "Londongrad", the party is over

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