Home / Sources / Select Committees / Foreign Affairs Committee / The Wagner Group and beyond: proxy Priv…
Index live
Select Committee · Foreign Affairs Committee

The Wagner Group and beyond: proxy Private Military Companies

Status: Closed Opened: 30 Mar 2022 Closed: 26 Apr 2024 19 recommendations 20 conclusions 1 report

This inquiry will explore the challenge posed by Private Military Companies (PMCs) that some states use as proxies in conflict and to destabilise fragile countries. It will also examine how the UK Government is responding. The inquiry will focus particularly on the Wagner Group. Read the call for evidence for more details about the inquiry

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Seventh Report - Guns for gold: the Wagner Network exposed HC 167 26 Jul 2023 39 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

2 items
18 Recommendation Seventh Report - Guns for gold: the Wag… Rejected

Establish a regular mechanism for coordinating Wagner-linked sanctions with US and EU partners.

We recommend that the Government establishes a specific and regular mechanism for coordinating with the United States and the European Union over Wagner- linked sanctions; it should report back to us on what these mechanisms are, and how frequently and effectively they are being used. Read more

Government response AI summary
The government explicitly rejects the recommendation, stating that strong coordination mechanisms are already in place with the EU and US, including frequent working-level engagement, a quarterly bilateral format with the EU, and a newly established UK-U.S. Strategic Sanctions Dialogue.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
27 Recommendation Seventh Report - Guns for gold: the Wag… Rejected

Revive commitments to 50% ODA for fragile states and 0.7% GNI for ODA.

The Government should revive its previous commitment to channel 50% of Official Development Assistance to fragile and conflict-affected countries and regions. The Government should also revive its 2019 manifesto commitment to spending 0.7% of the UK’s Gross National Income on Official Development Assistance at the earliest opportunity, in light of … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government has no plans to reintroduce the commitment to channel 50% of ODA to fragile and conflict-affected states. It remains committed to spending 0.7% of GNI on ODA once specific fiscal tests are met, which are currently not satisfied.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Oral evidence sessions

3 sessions
Date Witnesses
6 Feb 2023 Ben Fender OBE · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Hazel Cameron · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Leo Docherty · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office View ↗
1 Nov 2022 Jason McCue · McCue Jury & Partners, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Professor Jason Blazakis · Middlebury Institute of International Studies View ↗
19 Apr 2022 Christo Grozev · Bellingcat, Dr Sean McFate · Atlantic Council, Dr Sorcha MacLeod · University of Copenhagen View ↗

Who gave evidence

9 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Ben Fender OBE · Director, Eastern Europe and Central Asia Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office 1
Christo Grozev · Executive Director and ex-Russia investigator Bellingcat 1
Dr Sean McFate · Senior Fellow Atlantic Council 1
Dr Sorcha MacLeod · Associate Professor University of Copenhagen 1
Hazel Cameron · Director, EU and Gibraltar Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office 1
Jason McCue · Senior Partner McCue Jury & Partners 1
Leo Docherty · Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Europe) Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office 1
Mikhail Khodorkovsky — 1
Professor Jason Blazakis · Executive Director of the Center on Terrorism, Ex… Middlebury Institute of International Studies 1

Correspondence

1 letter
DateDirectionTitle
15 Mar 2023 — Correspondence with the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Europe) followi…