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Jersey has followed the UK in introducing new travel bans and asset freezes against individuals linked to human rights violations, including those involved in the death of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky.
The Minister for External Relations, Senator Ian Gorst, passed the order on Monday following the announcement from the UK Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, regarding the UK’s new sanctions regime.
The Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020 gives the UK the power to stop human rights offenders from entering the country, ‘channelling money’ through UK banks, or ‘profiting’ from the UK economy.
Pictured: Senator Ian Gorst has passed a new Sanctions and Asset-Freezing order in Jersey.
Dominic Raab announced an initial list of 49 individuals and organisations that will face travel bans and asset freezes under the new regulations.
The new list and sanctions came into immediate effect in Jersey on Monday, after Senator Gorst passed the Sanctions and Asset-Freezing Order 2020 under the Sanctions and Asset-Freezing (Jersey) Law 2019.
Pictured: The UK is imposing sanctions against 49 individuals and organisations accused of human rights abuses.
Senator Gorst said: “Jersey is a responsible and robustly regulated international finance centre that has a positive track record of helping to enforce the will of the international community. It is, therefore, important that Jersey plays its part in the global fight against the abuse of human rights.”
The list targets those who have been involved in some of the ‘gravest human rights violations and abuses around the world’.
It includes 25 Russian nationals involved in the mistreatment and death of Russian lawyer and tax auditor, Sergei Magnitsky, and 20 Saudi nationals responsible for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Today I will introduce a sanctions regime that will target people who have committed the gravest human rights violations. Global Britain will be an even stronger force for good in the world, in the years ahead.
— Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) July 6, 2020
Senator Gorst added that Jersey already implements all UN and EU sanctions against countries, regimes or individuals believed to be violating international law, including human rights abuses.
“We actively monitor international sanctions developments and take appropriate measures to ensure Jersey’s response remains proportionate and in line with agreed global best practice.”
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