Boris Johnson promises to publish hit list of Putin’s oligarch cronies

BORIS Johnson yesterday vowed to publish a hit list of oligarchs rich on “ill-gotten Russian loot” — as he came under fire for going too slowly on sanctions. Britain has targeted just nine Putin cronies, but the EU has hit 26 with asset freezes and travel bans. More than 80 FCO officials are working on […]

BORIS Johnson yesterday vowed to publish a hit list of oligarchs rich on “ill-gotten Russian loot” — as he came under fire for going too slowly on sanctions.

Britain has targeted just nine Putin cronies, but the EU has hit 26 with asset freezes and travel bans.

More than 80 FCO officials are working on sanctions, with the team tripling in size in recent weeks.

But the PM was urged by MPs on all sides to go further and faster — amid claims expensive city lawyers are hampering efforts by the Foreign Office to punish Russian billionaires.

Tory Bob Seely hit out: “Key oligarchs enforce the Kremlin’s hybrid conflict.

“In Britain, one of its aims is to ensure safe passage for money flows offshore, while law firms intimidate into silence those who would investigate, be it the media or even the National Crime Agency.

“Does the Prime Minister understand that this is how state corruption happens, and that this is systemic, planned subversion?

“Does he realise the seriousness of what has been happening to the law firms and finance companies in recent years?”

But the PM insisted his plan was working, after “$250 billion-worth of assets were wiped off the Russian stock market and the rouble fell by about 40%”.

Mr Johnson warned London’s white collar army of lawyers, bankers and PR execs who protect Russians in London “on notice” that their “actions are under scrutiny.

He hit out: “If they undermine the interests of this country and advance the interests of Putin’s war machine, they will pay a price.”

Read our Russia – Ukraine live blog for the very latest updates

After coming under fire from all sides Mr Johnson insisted: “We are going to be publishing a list of all those who have assets that are related to the Putin regime.

He warned: “I do hope that those who have any links with the Putin regime whatever — any so-called oligarchs and all those who are in any way associated with the regime — take this opportunity, as some brave individuals already have, to dissociate themselves from this barbaric invasion.”

But there were fears last night the hit list could cause major asset flights.

Mr Bryant warned oligarchs were already trying to offload assets in London auction houses Christies’s and Sotherby’s. Both firms said last night they strictly observed all laws.