Ukrainian organizations in UK protest ties with Putin’s oligarchs

The Association of Ukrainians of Great Britain signed a joint statement and joined a protest in London calling for an end to “business as usual with [Kremlin ruler Vladimir] Putin’s oligarchs” and for frozen Russian assets to be transferred to support Ukraine. 

The protest took place on Jan. 7 outside the headquarters of the UK Conservative Party under the slogan “No business as usual with Putin’s oligarchs”, as part of the #MakeRussiaPay campaign.

The demonstration was organized by British and Ukrainian civil society groups, including Ukraine Solidarity Campaign, Campaign for Ukraine, and Vsesvit. 

Protesters condemned the involvement of Lord Wolfson, the shadow attorney general for the House of Lords, in representing sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich while advising on party legal policy.

The issue was raised the same day in parliament, when Labor leader Keir Starmer challenged Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch over the Abramovich case, stressing that proceeds from the sale of the Chelsea soccer team should be transferred to Ukraine. 

Badenoch stated that Lord Wolfson had recused himself from advising on Ukraine and Russia-related matters and reiterated support for releasing the funds.

On Jan. 6, a joint statement signed by Ukrainian and British civil society organizations was published in The Times, calling for Lord Wolfson’s removal from the Shadow Cabinet, emergency legislation to prevent sanctioned individuals from exploiting the UK legal system, and the transfer of all frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.