I recently came back from providing essential assistance to rescue workers and union members in the Donbas area of Ukraine. Despite facing daily challenges such as power outages, missile attacks, and civilian casualties in various settings like homes, schools, hospitals, and even kindergartens, the people of Ukraine show remarkable strength. They desire peace but are firm in not surrendering their nation to Russia and the harsh conditions of an occupied life.
During my visit to the Save Ukraine facility, I encountered children who had been rescued from the occupied territories. Shockingly, one out of every ten children had experienced sexual abuse. The reported number of over 20,000 children abducted by Russia is likely an underestimate, indicating a disturbing prevalence of child abuse on a large scale.
In a concerning development, sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich is impeding the transfer of £2.5 billion from the sale of Chelsea FC to support Ukraine while entangled in a legal dispute over frozen assets worth billions in Jersey. Even more troubling is the involvement of a member of the Conservative Shadow Cabinet in aiding Abramovich in the Jersey case.
Lord Wolfson KC, not just a regular lawyer, but a Conservative peer and the Shadow Attorney General, is representing Abramovich alongside former Trump adviser Eric Herschmann. This association raises concerns as it suggests a return to normal relations with Russian oligarchs, casting doubt on the Tory defense that it is merely a lawyer-client relationship.
Amidst these legal battles, it is essential to recognize that the situation does not exist in isolation. With ongoing abductions of children, civilian casualties, and Ukraine’s fight for survival, the normalization of ties with Moscow by populist and far-right leaders, including those in the White House, is alarming. The UK, too, is not immune, as seen in instances like Nigel Farage echoing Kremlin narratives.
The failure to address Wolfson’s collaboration with a sanctioned oligarch raises serious questions about the leadership under Kemi Badenoch in the Conservative party. Holding the responsible parties accountable for this disconcerting situation is crucial for upholding democratic values.
The Labour government must take decisive action by introducing emergency measures to prevent sanctioned oligarchs from exploiting the UK legal system and transferring nearly £30 billion in frozen Russian assets to assist Ukraine. As Ukraine stands at the forefront of the democracy battle, they need our unwavering support. Join us outside Tory Headquarters on Wednesday, 7 January at 5 pm to show solidarity with Ukraine and voice your stance.
For further details on this matter, including Lord Wolfson’s response, click HERE.