AN expanded UK sanctions regime that would be enforced should Russia invade Ukraine has received the full backing of Jersey’s External Relations Minister.
Senator Ian Gorst has re-stated his support for penalty measures if needed against the Putin regime, confirming that any new UK asset freezes applied to oligarchs and businesses linked to the Kremlin ‘would apply immediately in Jersey’.
Tensions in eastern Europe have escalated in recent weeks, with more than 100,000 Russian troops now massed on the border with Ukraine.
On Thursday, UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss unveiled legislation broadening the scope of businesses and individuals that the UK could sanction, including those linked to the de-stabilisation of Ukraine.
She said that the measures would be applied if an invasion took place.
Senator Gorst last week said that Jersey would adopt a position of ‘full alignment’ with the UK in applying sanctions, having introduced asset-freeze laws in 2019 which have already been applied to dozens of individuals linked to human-rights abuses.
Following the latest Foreign Office announcement, the Senator tweeted: ‘Jersey welcomes the expanded criteria for designating persons and entities for an asset freeze under the UK’s Russia sanctions regime.
‘We are committed to enforcing sanctions against those who violate international law. Any new asset freezes would apply immediately in Jersey.’
