An influential British parliamentary committee, demanded this Monday (21), that Theresa May’s government, do more to combat the flow of “corrupt” Russian money circulating in London since the last few weeks.
“There is no excuse for the UK to turn a blind eye when President Putin’s kleptocrats and human rights abusers use money laundered in London to corrupt our allies, weaken our partnerships and erode trust in our institutions,” the Relations Committee wrote. Exteriors of the House of Commons in a report.
The conservative prime minister hardened her stance towards Moscow after the poisoning of former Russian spy Serguei Skripal on British soil on March 4, attributed to Russia, which denies responsibility for this act.
The government expelled Russian diplomats and promised to hunt down “criminals and corrupt elites”, while parliamentarians approved an amendment to impose sanctions to “discourage” human rights violations and to “hold accountable” those who commit them.
But according to the commission, “President Putin and his allies were able to continue to act as if nothing had happened by hiding and laundering their dirty assets in London.”
“The UK must be clear about the fact that corruption emanating from the Kremlin is no longer welcome in our markets and we will act,” he insists.
Deputies demand more severe measures. In this sense, they want London to use its position as a global financial center to reinforce gaps in agreements and call for closer cooperation with the United States, the G7 and the EU. ar-eg/mr.