UK hits Putin supporters with sanctions over Ukrainian ‘sham referendums’

Britain has imposed more sanctions on Russia after its “sham referendums” in territories it occupies in Ukraine, the Foreign Office announced on Monday.

It has brought in measures including travel bans and asset freezes targeting 33 officials and “collaborators” involved in organising the votes on joining the Russian Federation, and four more oligarchs who helped fund President Vladimir Putin’s war effort.

A further 55 board members from state-linked organisations, including Gazprombank and Sberbank, involved in financing the ongoing invasion have also been hit.

The government also added another four oligarchs to the sanctions list: God Nisanov, Zarakh Iliev, Iskander Makhmudov and Igor Makarov. It said their net worth was 6.3 billion pounds.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said :“Sham referendums held at the barrel of a gun cannot be free or fair and we will never recognise their results. They follow a clear pattern of violence, intimidation, torture, and forced deportations in the areas of Ukraine Russia has seized.

“Today’s sanctions will target those behind these sham votes, as well as the individuals that continue to prop up the Russian regime’s war of aggression. We stand with the Ukrainian people and our support will continue as long as it takes to restore their sovereignty.”

Speaking at the UN Security Council last week, Mr Cleverly called on countries to reject the “charade” of referenda to be held in the Russian-controlled regions in eastern and southern of Ukraine.

He said President Putin plans to fix the results of votes on becoming parts of Russia.