British Parliament criticizes government for insufficient sanctions against Wagner PMC
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Commons of the British Parliament has criticized the government for underestimating the threat posed by the Russian PMC Wagner.
That's according to Reuters, Ukrinform reports.
A lawmakers' report says the UK should toughen its approach to Russian mercenary operations with the Wagner PMC while it is vulnerable after last month's failed coup.
Parliamentarians called for more targeted sanctions against the "web of entities" subordinated to the Wagner PMC and added that Britain should recognize the group as a terrorist organization and ban it.
"With the network at its most vulnerable – and the clock ticking – the time for action is now," said Alicia Kearns, chair of the committee.
According to her, the British government does not understand the influence of the Wagner PMC outside of Europe, particularly in Africa.
"In the ten years since the Wagner Network's formation, the UK Government has lacked a coherent strategy and efforts to meaningfully tackle Wagner have been non-existent," she said.
She added that this allowed Wagner's group to "spread its tentacles deep into Africa" and exploit countries that have become vulnerable due to armed conflict or instability.
At the same time, the British Foreign Office said it had imposed tough sanctions against the Wagner PMC and its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin.
As reported, on June 23, Prigozhin announced a "march of justice" against the Russian military leadership, in particular against Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
The self-proclaimed leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, held talks with Prigozhin, after which he stated that the group's fighters were stopping their march on Moscow and returning to their field camps.
After that, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that "Wagnerites" could sign a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry or go to Belarus.