JERSEY cannot follow the EU in applying broader sanctions against Russia due to its reliance on the UK for information and security, the External Relations Minister has confirmed.
In response to a written States question by Deputy Kirsten Morel, Senator Ian Gorst said that the Island was ‘not best placed’ to apply sanctions outside of the UK’s framework and ‘cannot independently verify’ sanctions applied by the EU.
The UK has received some criticism for not applying sanctions as broadly as the US and EU on Russian individuals and businesses linked to the Putin regime.
Deputy Morel asked why the Island was not applying EU sanctions and what risk there was that individuals sanctioned elsewhere could continue transacting business in Jersey. In response, Senator Gorst said: ‘Ultimately, it is the UK which is responsible for the Island’s foreign relations as a matter of international law and Jersey has always been aligned with the UK on sanctions.
‘Jersey is not best placed to make decisions about sanctions outside the UK framework.
‘As I have said before, we do not have the intelligence services of the UK, and we rely on information held by the UK to defend Jersey’s interests, as is the established constitutional position.
‘We cannot independently verify whether restrictions introduced by the EU, but not the UK, will have the intended effect.’
He added: ‘Wherever there are differences in sanctions restrictions applied by jurisdictions there is the possibility that an individual or entity sanctioned in one jurisdiction is able to carry out actions or transactions that would be prohibited in another.
‘This is why it is important that jurisdictions work together to continue to align as closely as possible with each other on the sanctions they implement.’
The UK has now sanctioned more than 1,000 Russian businesses and individuals.
In another written question, Deputy Rob Ward asked Senator Gorst how the sanctions were being enforced and sanctioned assets were being located.
The minister said that an ‘operational taskforce’ had been established for this purpose.
‘The taskforce includes representation from the States of Jersey Police, Jersey Financial Services Commission, Jersey Customs and Immigration Services and others, including the Government of Jersey Sanctions Team.
‘That multi-agency forum has access to a wide range of information. The taskforce is examining information relevant to Russian customers and assets held in Jersey, sharing information between agencies, and working jointly with UK and international authorities through existing formalised channels.
‘Any links to sanctions or suspected criminality will be referred to law and regulatory enforcement agencies for consideration of investigation. This includes the ability to freeze assets found to be linked to sanctioned individuals,’ Senator Gorst said.
