OREANDA-NEWS. UK authorities will be able to use the so-called Magnitsky amendment to the law on sanctions and the fight against money laundering after the completion of the Brexit procedure. This was written in an article for an English news newspaper by British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab. “After we exit the EU and establish control over our own rules for imposing sanctions, our government will apply the provisions of the Magnitsky amendment to the sanctions law”, the minister said.

According to him, human rights violators “anywhere in the world” will face the consequences of their actions: their assets in the UK will be frozen, and entry into this country will be banned. Raab has promised to take steps to ensure that Britain doesn't become a safe haven for those who "benefit by torturing others". The head of the British Foreign Ministry added that he visited Canada at the beginning of the week and got acquainted with the experience of this country, which adopted the Magnitsky Act to introduce restrictions on issuing visas and freeze the assets of those responsible for gross human rights violations.

The British Parliament passed an amendment similar to the American Magnitsky Act in May 2018. In addition to introducing restrictive measures for violation of human rights, it also implies the disclosure by 2020 of information about those who hold assets under the jurisdiction of the overseas territories of Great Britain. This, in particular, is about the British Virgin and Cayman Islands.

The authorities haven't taken advantage of the amendment yet. In May of this year, members of the House of Commons sent a letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stating that the amendment doesn't contradict the legislation of the European Union. As European Affairs Minister Alan Duncan noted, the British version will be tougher than similar legislation in other European countries.