Kremlin Strikes UK Sanctions List, Adds MP and Government Officials

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has added seven British nationals to its sanctions list, including Deputy Finance Minister and MP Emma Reynolds, in a move Moscow says is a response to the UK’s hostile foreign policy.

In an official statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the personal restrictions were imposed in response to London’s continued confrontational stance, The Caspian Post reports via Russian media.

The ministry accused the British government of sponsoring cynical anti-Russian ventures and pursuing efforts aimed at strategically defeating Russia.

In addition to Reynolds, the list includes:

James Byrne, Founder of the Open Source Centre

Anna Deibel-Jung, Deputy Director at the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation

David Michael Duguid, Member of the UK House of Commons

Max Petrokofsky, Head of the Office of Sectoral Sanctions

Kinga Redlowska, Head of CFS Europe at the Centre for Finance and Security's Activities

Gonzalo Saiz Erausquin, Research Fellow at the Centre for Finance and Security at RUSI

The move comes shortly after the UK government, on September 19, expanded its own sanctions regime by targeting several Russian-linked entities. These included Aeza Group, a Russian IT firm, and HeliCo Group, which deals in helicopter sales and maintenance. The UK also sanctioned two Georgian nationals and two oil tankers-Bavly and Karakuz-accused of circumventing sanctions to transport Russian crude oil.