United Kingdom Takes A Stance Against Corruption And Other Crimes

On December 9, 2022, U.K. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly announced sanctions against several individuals and entities involved in corruption, conflict-related sexual violence and human rights abuses more broadly. The sanctions include an asset freeze and travel ban. The new package of sanctions targets 30 individuals and entities, including five individuals involved in corruption, six perpetrators behind conflict-related sexual violence, and 18 designations targeting individuals involved in human rights abuses. This adds to the several other sanctions imposed this year. For example, in Russia, the U.K. has sanctioned over 1,200 individuals, including members of the Russian military responsible for atrocities. In Iran, the U.K. targeted several officials responsible for heinous human rights violations.

Among those targeted for corruption are “Slobodan Tesic, a significant arms dealer based in Serbia, accused of bribing the Chief State Prosecutor of another country; Ilan Shor, the Chairman of the Şor Party in Moldova, and reportedly involved in the 2014 Moldovan Bank Fraud Scandal. Shor was accused of bribery to secure his position as chair of the Banca de Economii in 2014; Vladimir Plahotniuc, a businessman and a former politician, fugitive from Moldovan justice, involved in capturing and corrupting Moldova’s state institutions; Milan Radoicic, a construction industry businessman and Vice president of Srpska Lista/Serbian List (SL). Radoicic has profited from the misappropriation of state contracts and used his influence to award his own construction companies lucrative contracts; Zvonko Veselinovic, a construction industry businessman in Kosovo using public contracts to misappropriate state funds.”

The U.K. imposed sanctions against individuals and groups responsible for conflict related sexual violence, including Gordon Koang Biel and Gatluak Nyang Hoth, the County Commissioners for Koch and Mayendit in South Sudan, involved in the conflicts in the Unity State between February and May 2022. Both mobilized troops to rape civilians.

The Katiba Macina group in Mali (the Macina Liberation Front), a jihadist and armed group run by Amadou Kouffa, was sanctioned for perpetrating sexual violence, including the organization of forced marriages. The U.K. also targeted the Myanmar military junta, including the Office of the Chief of Military and Security Affairs. It is reported that this office has been the central perpetrator of torture for interrogation since the coup, including rape and sexual violence. The 33rd and 99th Light Infantry Division of the Myanmar Armed Forces were sanctioned for their attacks including sexual violence during “the clearance operations” of the Rakhine state in 2017 and continue to commit atrocities across the country.

The U.K. sanctioned several individuals responsible for human rights violations more broadly. Mian Abdul Haq, a Muslim Cleric from Pakistan, was sanctioned for being responsible for forced conversions and marriages of girls and women from religious minorities. General Kale Kayihura, the Inspector General of Police in Uganda from 2005 to 2018, was sanctioned for overseeing multiple units responsible for human rights violations including torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment. Sadrach Zelodon Rocha and Yohaira Hernandez Chirino, the mayor and deputy mayor of Matagalpa in Nicaragua, were sanctioned for being involved in promoting and supporting grievous violations of human rights. Andrey Tishenin, member of the Russian Federal Security Service in Crimea, and Artur Shambazov, a senior detective in the Autonomous republic of Crimea, were sanctioned for torturing Ukrainian Oleksandr Kostenko in 2015. Valentin Oparin, Major of Justice for the Russian Federation, and Oleg Tkachenko, Head of Public Prosecutions for the Rostov region, were sanctioned for obstructing complaints of torture.

The U.K. sanctioned ten Iranian officials connected to Iran’s judicial and prison systems, including six individuals linked to the Revolutionary Courts that have been responsible for prosecuting protestors. Ali Cheharmahali, and Ghloamreza Ziyayi, former directors of the Evin Prison, in Tehran, were sanctioned for their role in mistreatment of Iranian and foreign detainees at the facility. Russian Colonel Ibatullin, commander of the 90th Tank Division, was sanctioned for his role in the invasion of Ukraine.

Such targeted sanctions are a crucial mechanism to ensure justice and accountability, and especially where other avenues for justice are limited or unavailable. Other States must follow the lead of the U.K and ensure that they align their sanctions and so take steps towards justice and accountability.