The announcement today of high-profile sanctions as part of a new campaign by the British government to crack down on corruption and illicit finance is a hugely welcome sign that the UK is stepping up to a global leadership role in the fight against dirty money – and is finally getting serious about its own responsibility for ending the enabling of global corruption and kleptocracy.
Today’s action against notorious kleptocrats Isabel Dos Santos, Dmitry Firtash and Aivars Lembergs – and their family, friends and fixers – marks an important step change in how sanctions are used in the fight against corruption. We have long called for anti-corruption sanctions to be used more ambitiously against high-profile targets and as part of a wider cross-system strategy for tackling the UK’s role as a safe haven for dirty money.
It is particularly promising to see the emphasis on targets who have stashed dirty money in the UK, and that sanctions will be used more strategically alongside law enforcement efforts. This sets a clear agenda for how sanctions should be used in future, but it will need to be backed by resources to deliver on this agenda.
We also welcome the Foreign Secretary’s commitment to work closely with the Home Office and Chancellor “to deliver an ambitious government-wide agenda to tackle the devastating impacts of corruption and illicit finance, both at home and overseas.” There is plenty that needs to be done to achieve this: starting with holding enablers such as lawyers more effectively to account, and tackling our own issues with domestic corruption at home.
We look forward to more of these ambitious anti-corruption sanctions targets coupled with bold enforcement action against corrupt wealth in the UK, and for the government to lay out in more detail how it will deliver this ambitious agenda over the next five years.
Florindo Chivucute, Executive Director of Friends of Angola, said:
“Today, we celebrate a great achievement in the fight against kleptocracy and corruption. For decades, corruption and illicit financial flows have been significant challenges in Angola, creating a negative ripple effect throughout society. Beyond hampering economic development, these challenges have intensified and exacerbated social inequalities, eroding public trust in institutions. We congratulate the British government for this milestone in the fight against kleptocracy. This accomplishment is also important to strengthen democracy and human rights in Angola and around the world.”
Sanita Jemberga, Executive Director and Editor at Re:Baltica, the Baltic Centre for Investigative Journalism, said:
“For several decades Aivars Lembergs was one of the three most influential people in Latvian business and politics without whose agreement no major decision could be taken. He rose to prominence in the beginning of 90s when Latvia regained independence as one of former communist elite members who was running a town which happened to be a destination for Russian oil transit. And that transit came hand in hand with corruption of Latvian political system and massive personal wealth at the expense of people whom he was buying off with new pavements and fountains for Ventspils. Part of those illegal proceeds have gone to his children. In the Panama Papers, Re:Baltica found evidence that at least 10 million USD has been given to his daughter via a trust fund, but she has never been charged in Latvia for that. Lemberg’s court case where he is charged for heavy corruption crimes is now ongoing for 15 years, he has been convicted in the first instance and his star is fading. But the remnants and metastasis are still there, so what can I say – thanks, UK, better late than never.”
Tetiana Shevchuk, Head of International Relations at the Anticorruption Action Centre (AntAC), said:
“The UK’s latest sanctions on Dmytro Firtash and his enablers demonstrate that London is finally getting serious about its role as a haven for corrupt wealth extracted from Ukraine and other post-Soviet states. We hope this crackdown continues and helps to reduce Russia’s malign influence, as oligarchs like Firtash have long served as Kremlin proxies using London’s financial system to preserve and legitimize their corrupt gains.”
Lyra Nightingale, Legal Advisor at REDRESS, said:
“The link between grand corruption and serious human rights violations is well established. Corrupt actors often profit from human rights abuses and use such abuses to enable their conduct. This is why REDRESS welcomes the commitment of the Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary to make the UK a hostile environment for kleptocrats.”
Oliver Windridge, Senior Counsel, International Lawyers Project and member of the UK Anti-Corruption Coalition’s Sanctions Working Group, said:
“The UK puts down a big marker with this bold new anti-corruption campaign. Today’s action, sanctioning some of the world’s most notorious kleptocrats, is the start of the UK getting serious about using all the tools available to combat kleptocracy that destabilises the UK and drives conflict and insecurity across the world.”
Dr Susan Hawley, Executive Director of Spotlight on Corruption, said:
“Today’s bold sanctions send a welcome message that the UK is stepping up efforts to end impunity for corruption and the UK’s role in enabling and harbouring dirty money. It is particularly encouraging to see the Foreign Secretary and the Home Secretary working together on a coordinated strategy to tackle corruption and illicit finance at home and abroad. While the hard work lies ahead, the launch of this new campaign is a promising first step towards realising the government’s ambition to make the UK the anti-corruption capital of the world.”
