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UK sanctions regime to target human rights abusers UK imposes sanctions against human rights abusers
(about 4 hours later)
The UK will later impose sanctions independently for the first time on dozens of individuals accused of human rights abuses around the world. The UK is imposing sanctions on 49 people behind the most "notorious" human rights abuses of recent years.
Dominic Raab will name the first violators to have their assets frozen as part of a new post-Brexit regime. Individuals implicated in the death of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky in 2009 and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 will have their UK assets frozen and banned from the UK.
These are expected to include Russian officials thought to be implicated in the death of Sergei Magnitsky in 2009. Action will also be taken against two Myanmar generals over the violence against the Rohingya people.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said perpetrators must be held to account.
Speaking in the Commons, the foreign secretary said the UK was taking action against the "thugs of despots and henchmen of dictators" as well as stopping those trying to launder their "blood-stained ill-gotten gains".
Russian officials implicated in the death of Sergei Magnitsky in 2009 are also set to be subject to travel bans.
The whistleblower's maltreatment while in custody has been condemned by the European Court of Human Rights.The whistleblower's maltreatment while in custody has been condemned by the European Court of Human Rights.
In the past, the UK has almost always imposed sanctions collectively as a member of the United Nations or European Union.In the past, the UK has almost always imposed sanctions collectively as a member of the United Nations or European Union.
But after its departure from the EU in January, the UK is putting in place its own sanctions framework. This will fully take effect at the end of the transition period on 1 January 2021. But the UK is putting in place its own sanctions regime after its withdrawal from the EU, underpinned by legislation passed in 2018.
The new regime will initially target individuals or organisations accused of human rights violations around the world, as well as those who profit financially from those abuses. The UK will initially target individuals or organisations accused of human rights violations around the world, as well as those who profit financially from those abuses.
Later on Monday, the foreign secretary will name several dozen people who will have their assets in the UK frozen immediately and who will also be banned from entering the country. Speaking in the Commons the foreign secretary named several dozen people who will have their assets in the UK frozen immediately and who will also be banned from entering the country.
Ahead of a statement to Parliament at about 15.30 BST, Mr Raab tweeted that those being designated were responsible for the "gravest violations". Ahead of a statement to Parliament, Mr Raab tweeted that those being designated were responsible for the "gravest violations".
'10 year campaign''10 year campaign'
The first list is expected to include individuals from Russia, Saudi Arabia and North Korea.
Many MPs have long been pushing for a tougher domestic sanctions regime against foreign states accused of human rights abuses, based on the US Magnitsky Act.Many MPs have long been pushing for a tougher domestic sanctions regime against foreign states accused of human rights abuses, based on the US Magnitsky Act.
The law was passed in response to the case of Sergei Magnitsky, a Moscow lawyer and auditor who accused Russian tax officials of defrauding Hermitage Capital Management, a foreign investment firm he was advising.The law was passed in response to the case of Sergei Magnitsky, a Moscow lawyer and auditor who accused Russian tax officials of defrauding Hermitage Capital Management, a foreign investment firm he was advising.
Magnitsky spent 11 months in police custody after being arrested in 2008, during which he sustained injuries which human rights campaigners say were consistent with him being beaten and tortured.Magnitsky spent 11 months in police custody after being arrested in 2008, during which he sustained injuries which human rights campaigners say were consistent with him being beaten and tortured.
In 2019, European Court of Human Rights found there had been "multiple violations" of the European Convention of Human Rights, with Magnitsky being deprived of important medical care and the authorities had not complied with their duty to protect life.In 2019, European Court of Human Rights found there had been "multiple violations" of the European Convention of Human Rights, with Magnitsky being deprived of important medical care and the authorities had not complied with their duty to protect life.
Bill Browder, co-founder and chief executive of Hermitage Capital, said the sanctioning of individuals involved would represent "a huge milestone in our 10 year campaign for justice".Bill Browder, co-founder and chief executive of Hermitage Capital, said the sanctioning of individuals involved would represent "a huge milestone in our 10 year campaign for justice".
'Inflicting pain' The list of those being sanctioned is not expected to include anyone from China.
Mr Raab said: "From today, the UK will have new powers to stop those involved in serious human rights abuses and violations from entering the UK, channelling money through our banks and profiting from our economy.
"We will not let those who seek to inflict pain and destroy the lives of innocent victims benefit from what the UK has to offer."
BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale said the new sanctions regime had been "long in coming, but forms a central plank of the government's foreign policy ambition to make Britain a global defender of international rules and human rights".
The initial list of those being sanctioned is not expected to include anyone from China.
It comes amid tensions between the UK and China after the Chinese government introduced a new security law in Hong Kong, which Boris Johnson said violated freedoms of the UK's former colony.It comes amid tensions between the UK and China after the Chinese government introduced a new security law in Hong Kong, which Boris Johnson said violated freedoms of the UK's former colony.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said the UK would continue to work with its allies to punish those responsible for violations, potentially including those "who commit unlawful killings perpetrated against journalists and media workers, or activity motivated on the grounds of religion or belief".A Foreign Office spokesperson said the UK would continue to work with its allies to punish those responsible for violations, potentially including those "who commit unlawful killings perpetrated against journalists and media workers, or activity motivated on the grounds of religion or belief".
All EU sanctions that the UK is currently a party to will be maintained after the end of transition period while the UK has said it is also committed to implementing UN sanctions in UK domestic law. The 2018 Sanctions and Anti-money Laundering Act gave the UK government the powers to introduce some of the same sanctions that would have otherwise been decided by the EU.
BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale said the new regime had been formed "a central plank of the government's foreign policy ambition to make Britain a global defender of international rules and human rights".
The UK is required by law to enforce existing EU sanctions it is a party to until the end of the transition period on 1 January 2021. The government has said it will maintain these after that date and also existing UN sanctions.