Recommendation 18

HM Government · verbatim extract Rejected

Disagree. 16. The Government recognises the importance of close coordination with the EU and US to maximise the effectiveness of UK sanctions but strong coordination mechanisms are already in place. Since President Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, we have ensured the close alignment of UK, US and EU sanctions policy. This increases the impact of our sanctions. 17. We have frequent working level engagement both between capitals, and through our dedicated sanctions attachés networks in our posts in Washington and Brussels, regarding all aspects of sanctions. In addition, we have established a quarterly bilateral format on sanctions with the EU to promote cooperation and coordination and set forward strategy. Similarly, we have recently established a UK-U.S. Strategic Sanctions Dialogue. On 19 July, senior UK sanctions officials attended the inaugural dialogue hosted by the US Department of State in Washington DC. Departments and agencies discussed priorities across geographic and thematic sanctions regimes, including Wagner. 18. As these mechanisms already enable close co-ordination on Wagner, we do not judge there to be a need for a further mechanism. We will, however, keep the option of a specific mechanism for Wagner under review. We further recommend that the Government prioritises introducing and enforcing travel bans for Wagner-linked individuals as a likely deterrent to involvement in the network, in particular working with Turkey, a popular holiday destination for Russians. Partially agree. 19. We agree that travel bans have some deterrent effect, as well as an impact on the operations and morale of those designated and their networks. Designations made under UK autonomous sanctions regimes involving a travel ban on an individual only apply in relation to the UK. The individual becomes an excluded person under section 8B of the Immigration Act 1971, meaning that they must be refused leave to enter or to remain in the United Kingdom. UK designations involving travel bans would therefore have limited, if any, effect on Wagner-linked individuals’ travel to Turkey. We will continue to discuss with our international partners possible sanctions or travel bans they could adopt, as well as other steps to hold the Wagner Group accountable and to counter its destabilising and destructive activities. PROSCRIPTION