To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of allocating confiscated proceeds from (a) sanctions breaches and (b) penalties for (i) human rights and (ii) humanitarian law violations towards reparations for victims.
Answered on
13 December 2024
His Majesty's Government is committed to clamping down on sanctions offenders and takes action in all cases where it is appropriate to do so. Fines issued for breaching sanctions are absorbed into HMG's overall budget. The Government assesses that it is for competent courts to judge whether we should allocate confiscated proceeds from penalties for human rights and humanitarian law violations reparations for victims. The International Criminal Court is the primary international institution for investigating and prosecuting the most serious crimes of international concern, holding perpetrators to account and achieving justice for victims - including through reparations.
The UK also remains committed to supporting Ukraine. This Government is clear that Russia must pay for the damage it has caused and will continue to consider all lawful ways to hold Russia to this obligation.