One sentence summary – The UK government is set to proscribe Wagner, a Russian mercenary group, as a terrorist organization, allowing for the seizure of its assets categorized as terrorist property, amid concerns about the group’s activities in Ukraine and Africa and their impact on global security, with potential penalties for supporting the group including up to 14 years in prison or a fine, while the move has been welcomed by some, the government has faced criticism for its perceived lack of understanding of Wagner’s influence beyond Europe.
At a glance
- The UK government is set to proscribe Wagner as a terrorist organization.
- A draft order has been introduced to allow the seizure of Wagner’s assets.
- Wagner is seen as a military tool of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
- Wagner’s activities in Ukraine and Africa have been widely seen as a threat to global security.
- The proscription of Wagner aims to curtail their operations, restrict their financial resources, and provide a legal framework for potential legal actions against the organization.
The details
The UK government is set to proscribe Wagner, a Russian mercenary group, as a terrorist organization.
A draft order has been introduced to allow the seizure of Wagner’s assets.
These assets will be categorized as terrorist property.
The UK home secretary has described Wagner as a “violent and destructive” group.
The group is also seen as a military tool of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Wagner’s activities in Ukraine and Africa have been widely seen as a threat to global security.
The group has been accused of engaging in heinous crimes, including killing and torturing Ukrainian citizens.
Last year, the United States accused Wagner soldiers of planting landmines in Libya.
The UK government also accuses Wagner of carrying out executions and torture in Mali and the Central African Republic.
This has led to growing concerns about the group’s operations and their impact on regional stability.
Wagner’s leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, led a failed mutiny against Russia’s military leaders before his demise in a suspicious plane crash.
With this proscription, Wagner’s name will join the list of proscribed organizations in the UK.
This list includes notable groups like Hamas and Boko Haram.
The proscription order will make it a criminal offense to support the group.
Potential penalties for supporting the group include up to 14 years in prison or a fine.
The move to proscribe Wagner comes after mounting pressure from Members of Parliament.
The Foreign Office had already imposed sanctions on the group, including freezing the assets of Prigozhin and other top commanders.
Proscribing Wagner will restrict the group’s financial movements.
It will also provide a legal basis for potential lawsuits against the organization.
This could potentially allow Ukrainians and others to seek compensation through British courts.
Labour’s shadow foreign secretary has welcomed the decision to proscribe Wagner.
However, the government has faced criticism for its perceived lack of understanding of Wagner’s influence beyond Europe.
The proscription of Wagner is a significant step by the UK government in combating this Russian mercenary group’s destabilizing actions.
It aims to curtail their operations, restrict their financial resources, and provide a legal framework for potential legal actions against the organization.
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| bbc.co.uk |
|---|
| – Wagner, a Russian mercenary group, is set to be proscribed as a terrorist group by the UK government. – |
| A draft order will allow the seizure of Wagner’s assets and categorize them as terrorist property. – |
| The UK home secretary describes Wagner as a “violent and destructive” group and a military tool of Vladimir Putin’s Russia. |
| – Wagner’s activities in Ukraine and Africa are seen as a threat to global security. – |
| The group has been accused of crimes including killing and torturing Ukrainian citizens. – |
| In 2020, the US accused Wagner soldiers of planting landmines in Libya. – |
| The UK also accused the group of carrying out executions and torture in Mali and the Central African Republic. – Wagner’s leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, led a failed mutiny against Russia’s military leaders and died in a suspicious plane crash. – |
| The group’s name will be added to the list of proscribed organizations in the UK, alongside Hamas and Boko Haram. – |
| The proscription order will make it a criminal offense to support the group, with potential penalties of up to 14 years in prison or a fine. – |
| The government faced pressure from MPs to proscribe Wagner. – |
| The Foreign Office had already imposed sanctions on the group, including freezing the assets of Prigozhin and top commanders. |
| – Proscribing Wagner will make it harder for members to move money and provide a legal basis for potential lawsuits against the group. – |
| The move is welcomed by Labour’s shadow foreign secretary, who also calls for a Special Tribunal to prosecute Putin. – |
| The government has been criticized for its lack of understanding of Wagner’s influence beyond Europe. |
| – Proscribing Wagner may allow Ukrainians and others to sue the group for compensation through British courts. |
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