I recently came back from providing essential assistance to emergency responders and labor representatives in the Donbas area of Ukraine. Despite facing daily challenges such as power outages, missile attacks, and civilian casualties in various settings like residences, schools, hospitals, and even preschools, the Ukrainian people exhibit remarkable resilience. While they desire peace, they are steadfast in their refusal to cede their nation to Russia and endure the hardships of living under occupation.
During my visit to the Save Ukraine facility, I encountered children who had been rescued from the occupied territories. Shockingly, one out of every ten children had experienced sexual abuse. The number of children reportedly abducted by Russia surpasses 20,000, indicating that child exploitation is occurring on a significant scale.
It is disheartening that Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, who is under sanctions, is impeding the transfer of £2.5 billion from the Chelsea FC sale earmarked for Ukraine aid. Additionally, Abramovich is embroiled in a legal dispute over frozen assets worth billions in Jersey, with the support of a member of the Conservative Shadow Cabinet, Lord Wolfson KC, who serves as the Shadow Attorney General.
The involvement of Lord Wolfson and former Trump advisor Eric Herschmann in Abramovich’s legal battle highlights a troubling trend of reverting to normalcy in dealings with Russian oligarchs. Justifying this representation as routine legal practice does little to instill confidence, especially in the face of ongoing abductions, civilian casualties, and Ukraine’s battle for survival.
The current situation raises serious concerns about the actions of the Conservative Party under the leadership of Kemi Badenoch. It is imperative for democracy that they be held accountable for their role in this regrettable affair. The Labour government must take decisive action by introducing emergency legislation to prevent sanctioned oligarchs from exploiting the UK legal system and redirect the nearly £30 billion in frozen Russian assets towards aiding Ukraine.
Ukraine is at the forefront of the fight for democracy, and now more than ever, they require our unwavering support. Join us outside Tory Headquarters on Wednesday, January 7th at 5 pm to stand in solidarity with Ukraine and make your voice heard.