I have recently come back from providing essential assistance to emergency responders and labor representatives in the Donbas area of Ukraine.
Despite facing daily power outages, missile attacks, and civilian casualties in various settings like homes, schools, hospitals, and even preschools, Ukrainians exhibit remarkable resilience. Their desire for peace is evident, yet they refuse to surrender their nation to Russia and the harsh conditions of 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 exceeds 20,000, indicating a significant issue of child exploitation.
The situation is further exacerbated by the actions of sanctioned Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, who is impeding the transfer of £2.5 billion from the sale of Chelsea FC to support Ukraine. Abramovich is also involved in a legal dispute over frozen assets in Jersey, with the support of a member of the Conservative Shadow Cabinet, Lord Wolfson KC.
Lord Wolfson, not just an ordinary lawyer representing a wealthy client, is a Conservative peer and the Shadow Attorney General. His association with Abramovich, a sanctioned oligarch with close ties to Putin, alongside former Trump adviser Eric Herschmann, raises concerns about the normalization of relationships with Russian oligarchs.
Amidst these events, the reluctance to address Wolfson’s collaboration with a sanctioned oligarch raises serious questions about the Conservative Party’s stance under Kemi Badenoch’s leadership. The Labour government is urged to take decisive action by enacting emergency legislation to prevent sanctioned oligarchs from exploiting the UK legal system and transferring around £30 billion in frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine.
Ukraine stands at the forefront of the fight for democracy and deserves our unwavering support. Join us outside Tory Headquarters on Wednesday, January 7th at 5 pm to show solidarity with Ukraine and demand accountability for these concerning developments.