United Kingdom sanctions

United Kingdom sanctions are imposed by the Government of the United Kingdom against countries, individuals, and organisations that the UK Government rules violate the interests, or are opposed to the values of the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom refers to those sanctioned as 'designated', countries, organisations, or individuals.[1] Sanctions take the form of asset freezes, preventing the designated country, person, or organisation from accessing their finances in the United Kingdom, travel bans, preventing the designated person from entering the United Kingdom, and transport sanctions. Transport sanctions prevent the transport the designated person owns or controls from entering UK territory.[2][3]

When imposed on countries, sanctions are used with the intent of damaging that country's economy in response to unfavourable policy or decisions. United Kingdom sanctions on countries are imposed either in response to that country imposing sanctions on the United Kingdom, or to assert pressure on a country to change its actions to align with the politics and values of the United Kingdom. When United Kingdom sanctions are applied to an organisation, they are done so with the aim of asserting pressure on that organisation to change its actions to align with the politics and values of the United Kingdom. United Kingdom sanctions on individuals are usually imposed on non-British citizens due to their association with regimes, or organisations, which the United Kingdom is opposed to, or prohibited terrorist organisations.[4]

In July 2022, British journalist Graham Phillips became the first mono-British citizen to be added to UK Government sanctions list, and he remains the only mono-British national to be sanctioned by the UK.[5] Phillips was added to the list because his work "supports and promotes actions and policies which destabilise Ukraine and undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty, or independence of Ukraine".[6]

Despite some criticisms of their effectiveness, sanctions have become for the United Kingdom, as many countries across the world, a key part of government strategy in pursuing foreign policy goals.[7] The UK Government has a 100% record of defending sanctions appeals in the UK Court system.[8]

  1. ^ "Phillips v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs" (PDF). High Court of Justice. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Abramovich ally Eugene Shvidler fails in attempt to overturn UK sanctions". The Guardian. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  3. ^ "UK Sanctions List". High Court of Justice. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  4. ^ Haidar, J.I., 2017."Sanctions and Exports Deflection: Evidence from Iran," Economic Policy (Oxford University Press), April 2017, Vol. 32(90), pp. 319-355.
  5. ^ "British vlogger accused of being 'Kremlin mouthpiece' sanctioned by UK over work in Ukraine". 27 July 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  6. ^ Beaumont, Peter (26 July 2022). "British pro-Kremlin video blogger added to UK government Russia sanctions list". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  7. ^ "What Are Economic Sanctions?". 12 August 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Abramovich ally Shvidler loses appeal over UK sanctions". 27 February 2024. Retrieved 2024-03-13.