Britain will list the Wagner private military group as a terrorist organization, making it illegal to join or support this group.
The British Ministry of Home Affairs said on September 6 that today they will present a draft to parliament to consider the assets of the private military corporation Wagner as terrorist assets and be allowed to confiscate. Acts such as joining or promoting Wagner as well as carrying the group's symbol in public can be punished with up to 9 years in prison. The order is expected to be approved by the National Assembly and take effect on September 14.
Interior Minister Suella Braverman described Wagner members as “violent and destructive”. “They are terrorists and this move makes that clear under British law,” Minister Braverman said.
Braverman also accused Wagner's activities in Ukraine, the Middle East and Africa of "being a threat to global security." Under the Terrorism Act 2000, the UK Home Secretary has the power to ban an organization if it believes it is involved in terrorism.
Wagner soldiers withdrew from the city of Rostov-on-Don, Rostov province, Russia on the night of June 24. Image: AFP
Commenting on the British announcement, the Kremlin said Wagner does not legally exist, because Russian law has no specific regulations on private military companies like Wagner.
In 2020, Britain imposed sanctions on Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin. In March 3, after the war in Ukraine broke out, Britain continued to impose sanctions on the entire corporation. London in July also punished individuals and businesses linked to Wagner in the Central African Republic, Mali and Sudan.
Wagner played an important role supporting Russian regular forces during the conflict in Ukraine. In June, boss Wagner led the members to rebel and then moved to Belarus, not being prosecuted in Russia. Prigozhin died on August 6 in a plane crash.
Ngoc Anh (Follow AFP/Reuters)
