Nicola Sturgeon seeks advice on taking action against Russians linked to Putin
dailyrecord.co.ukNicola Sturgeon has sought urgent advice on the “maximum possible action” her Government can take against individuals linked to Putin’s Russia with connections to Scotland.
The First Minister wants to know what powers ministers have relating to people with “close links with the Russian regime”. This will consider whether the Scottish Government can step in to freeze or seize any assets in Scotland, Sturgeon said.
She revealed the move as Green Ross Greer told MSPs that the Aberuchill estate in Perthshire owned by Russian oligarch Vladimir Lisin had received almost £700,000 in agricultural subsidies.
The wealthy Russian is on the US Treasury Department’s list of “known Kremlin associates”, Greer said.He asked Sturgeon if she would “urgently review the agricultural payment system and any other relevant payment system to ensure no member of the Russian elite, no Kremlin associate, is in receipt of public money here in Scotland”.Sturgeon agreed: “I have sought urgent advice on the maximum possible action that the Scottish Government can take within our powers against individuals and entities identifying as having close links with the Russian regime, whether or not they are currently on the UK sanctions list.“Options that will be examined include, but are not limited to, ending the support from the public purse or freezing or seizing assets in Scotland, where that is possible.”She also pledged: “The Scottish Government and our economic agencies will not support trade and investment activity with Russia.”Meanwhile, Finance and Economy Secretary Kate Forbes has sent an open letter to Scotland’s business community asking it to show solidarity with Ukraine by ending any links with Russia.Forbes said: “We all have a moral duty
Read more on dailyrecord.co.uk