No convictions secured for Russian sanction breaches, says NCA


Despite the UK introducing sanctions on Russia in 2014 following the annexation of Crimea, no convictions have been made for breaches of the sanctions, according to a letter from the National Crime Agency (NCA) director-general. The sanctions include preventing the export of weapon technology, facilitating the illegal trade of Russian oil and assisting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s government. The NCA has described the cases as complex, and charges have reportedly only been brought once. The UK has laws allowing conviction for breaching Russian sanctions, and last year, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) received £50m additional funding.

Critics have claimed that Western sanctions against Russia are less effective than had been hoped, and the Russian economy has reportedly experienced growth over the past year. OFSI allegedly carried out 37 investigations relating to potential breaches of UK sanctions involving Russian oil, closing fifteen without punishment. In September, London firm Integral Concierge Services was fined £15,000 for operating for a client with their assets frozen. The Sanctions and Anti Money Laundering Act is used for these convictions, and it was introduced four years ago. While the NCA has a “number of ongoing investigations,” it admits that “there have been no concluded prosecutions for offences.”

Former Labour MP Baroness Margaret Hodge was appointed anti-corruption champion in December, but no further action against companies linked to the Russian oil industry has been announced. Treasury Select Committee chair Dame Meg Hillier emphasised that the UK must maintain pressure on organisations tied to Russia and ensure clear deterrents against attempts to bypass sanctions. Western sanctions have reportedly cost Russia over $400bn since 2022 equivalent to four years of funding. Foreign Secretary David Lammy has pledged to take personal responsibility for choking off Russian revenues through sanctions

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