The United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, announced sanctions on 49 individuals and organizations that are responsible for human rights abuses, taking aim at the “thugs of despots and henchmen of dictators” and “blood-frenched ill-gotten gains”. These sanctions have been imposed independently, and are not linked to the United Nations (UN) or the European Union (EU).
Among those listed are 25 Russian nationals involved in the death of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who brought to light corruption by tax and police officials. Russia took umbrage with the “pointless” sanctions that “will not improve Russian-British relations. Its embassy in London saying that it “reserves the right to respond to today’s unfriendly decision by the UK on the basis of reciprocity”.
Similarly, the 20 Saudi Arabian nationals implicated in the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who often spoke out against the Saudi royals and was subsequently murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, have also been named.
Likewise, two high-ranking Myanmar military generals who have been directly linked to the genocide of the Rohingya and other ethnic minorities have also been hit with sanctions. Lastly, two North Korean organizations—the Ministry of State Security Bureau and the Ministry of People’s Security Correctional Bureau—that ran prison camps that are took part in forced labor, torture, and murder have also been punished.
Raab said that the list is under “constant review” and that the government is already working towards adding “further designations that can be made in due course”. When confronted with the possibility of this decision potentially hampering key trade relationships, Raab said it was a “matter of moral duty” and that the UK “cant turn a blind eye to gross violations of human rights”. He declared: “If you are a kleptocrat or an organized criminal, you will not be able to launder your blood money in this country”.
On the face of it, this blacklist has little effect on the individuals named, as they have already been blacklisted by the United States, which effectively bans them from dealing with British banks as it is, since the Treasury Department also threatens secondary sanctions against countries who do not abide by US sanctions.
However, it is a poignant episode of what we can come to expect of British foreign policy and its commitment to protecting human rights in a post-Brexit era, wherein it will now have to impose such sanctions unilaterally, rather than within the confines of the EU. Nevertheless, it is clear that it is adopting much of the same principles that guide EU sanctions. For instance, the EU claims that targeted sanctions, as opposed to overarching sanctions on the entire country, can pave the way for a transitional government without affecting the general population. This is a point that was reiterated on the UK government website, which clarified that the measures will “target individuals and organizations, rather than nations”.
It is noteworthy that the UK chose not to name any Chinese or Hong Kong officials, even in light of its recent criticisms of the new security law in Hong Kong. Of China, Raab said: “If we want a positive relationship with China… the real issue here is one of trust and whether China can be trusted to live up to its international obligations, and its international responsibilities. He added, “It’s a matter of trust, and lots of countries around the world are asking this question—does China live up to its international obligations? Because if they can’t be trusted to keep their word on Hong Kong, why would they be trusted to live up to their wider international responsibilities.”
In recent weeks, Raab has referenced the “legally binding Joint Declaration, signed by the China and the UK”, which stipulates that Hong Kong must continue to enjoy a “high degree of autonomy”, and “rights and freedoms, including those of the person, of the press, of assembly, of association and others”. Likewise, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has opened the door to nearly 3 million Hongkongers to live and work in Britain, and provided a path to citizenship. These actions have drawn consternation from China, with Ambassador to UK Liu Xiaoming accusing Britain of “gross interference” in China’s internal matters. Foreign Minister Wang Yi has previously said that “no external interference will be tolerated”.
Ultimately, the UK’s list merely mimics a lot of what the US has already done. It remains to be seen whether it will go one step further and impose sanctions on Chinese officials as well.
UK Sanctions Russian, Saudi, Myanmar, and North Korean Individuals and Organizations
The sanctions are independent and unilateral, and not under the auspices of the EU or UN.
July 7, 2020
IMAGE SOURCE: PIPPA FOWLES / NO 10 DOWNING STREETBritish Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab