THE Scottish Government has sought “urgent advice” on how Holyrood’s powers can be used to take “maximum possible action” against Kremlin-linked organisations and individuals in the country.
Nicola Sturgeon announced that she had asked how the powers could be used in response to a question from Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer.
Greer brought up concerns over Vladimir Lisin, who is the majority shareholder and chair of Novolipetsk Steel. He bought the Aberuchill Estate in Perthshire in 2005, which is now owned by Virgin-Island-registered Forestborne Ltd.
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Lisin is an oligarch on the US Treasury’s Putin list, and Greer revealed that his Perthshire estate received £682,896 in CAP payments (agricultural funds) between 2016 and 2019.
Andy Wightman’s Land Detective series, published regularly in The National, recently featured reference to Lisin among other Russian oligarchs who own property in Scotland.
During FMQs, Greer put to the First Minister: “Can I ask the First Minister if the Scottish Government will urgently review the agricultural payments system and any other relevant payments system to ensure that no member of the Russian elite, no Kremlin associate is in receipt of public money here in Scotland.”
In response Sturgeon explained this review would be going ahead.
“I can advise parliament that I have sought urgent advice on the maximum possible action that the Scottish Government can take within our powers against individuals and entities identified as having close links with the Russian regime, whether or not they are currently on the UK sanctions list,” she explained.
“Options that will be examined include but are not limited to, ending support from the public purse and freezing or seizing assets in Scotland where that is possible.”
She also told MSPs that the Scottish Government has written to business leaders and organisations across the country urging them to review operations with links to Russia, and encouraging them to sever those links.
READ MORE: Tens of millions of Scottish salmon and whisky exports could be lost due to Ukraine invasion
The First Minister went on: “I can tell Parliament the Scottish Government and our economic agencies will not support trade and investment activity with Russia. We will, of course, support businesses as they adapt to remove any and all links with Russia.”
The Scottish Greens welcomed the news of action, saying it is “vital” that Scotland plays a role in the international sanctions on Russia following Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Greer said: “I am extremely grateful to the First Minister, who has agreed to Green calls for an immediate review of Scotland’s agricultural payments system and all other relevant schemes to ensure that no Russian oligarch or Kremlin associate receives a penny of public money here. Standing with the people of Ukraine must mean putting maximum pressure on Putin’s cronies, wherever in the world they operate.”
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