Topline
The U.K. government on Friday announced sanctions on the adult daughters of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the European Union will reportedly follow suit mirroring U.S. measures imposed earlier this week as part of a concerted crackdown on the Kremlin’s inner circle over its invasion of Ukraine.
The daughters of Vladimir Putin have been sanctioned over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Key Facts
Katerina Vladimirovna Tikhonova and Maria Vladimirovna Vorontsova, Putin’s daughters, will be subject to travel bans and asset freezes, the British Foreign Office said in a statement.
The U.K. also announced sanctions against the daughter of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Yekaterina Sergeyevna Vinokurova.
The measures are part of a targeted crackdown on the “lavish lifestyles” of the Kremlin’s inner circle, the Foreign Office said, and follows the decision to sanction Lavrov’s stepdaughter in late March.
The Foreign Office said it coordinated the sanctions with the U.S.—which sanctioned the daughters of Putin and Lavrov on Thursday—to show “global unity” against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Key Background
The new sanctions threaten to shine a bright light on one of Putin’s most closely guarded secrets: his family. The Russian president has always tried to shield his daughters from the intense scrutiny that can come with proximity to the world’s most rich, famous and powerful people. The Kremlin has only ever identified Putin’s daughters by their first names, there are no confirmed photographs of them, and Putin is evasive when asked questions about them, reportedly refusing to even publicly acknowledge their names. The Kremlin is reportedly baffled by the measures targeting Putin’s family, though a White House official said while announcing sanctions many of the Russian president’s assets are hidden with his family. Both Putin’s daughters are of his ex-wife Lyudmila, who met Putin while working as a flight attendant. Vorontsova is an academic, specializing in pediatric endocrinology. Tikhonova, a former competitive dancer, is now reportedly a tech executive.
What To Watch For
The EU is expected to announce more sanctions on Friday. In addition to Putin’s daughters, the bloc is expected to prohibit Russian-flagged vessels from accessing EU ports and introduce measures targeting Russia’s energy sector. Sanctions on Russian energy imports have proven particularly divisive across the bloc, which is heavily dependent on Russian oil and gas.
Crucial Quote
U.K. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the “unprecedented package of sanctions” is hitting Russian elites and their families and “degrading the Russian economy on a scale Russia hasn’t seen since the fall of the Soviet Union.” Truss said more must be done, however, and said the G7 countries are working to “end the use of Russian energy,” a major source of Putin’s funds. “Together, we are tightening the ratchet on Russia’s war machine, cutting off Putin’s sources of cash.”
Further Reading
The Top Secret Family Life of Vladimir Putin (Newsweek)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2022/04/08/uk-eu-sanctions-take-aim-at-lavish-lifestyles-of-putins-daughters/