The UK has blocked another jet tied to Russian oligarchs, as it continues its crackdown on those associated with the regime of Vladimir Putin.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said that measure was taken on Saturday morning but did not provide further details about which aircraft had been targeted or who its owner was.
Mr Shapps insisted that the UK “won’t stand by and watch those who’ve made millions through Putin’s patronage live their lives in peace as innocent blood is shed” during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
A superyacht worth £38m and owned by a Russian businessman was also detained in London this week – the first vessel to be hit by UK sanctions.
At the start of March, the Government made it a criminal offence for aircraft owned, operated or chartered by anyone connected with Russia to enter UK airspace.
They have since introduced legislation to ban maintenance on aircraft or ships belonging to specific sanctioned Russian oligarchs or their businesses.
The UK has sanctioned at least 18 oligarchs, alongside banks with £500 billion of global asset value, according to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Oligarchs linked to Putin’s regime have had their bank accounts frozen and assets seized.
Last month, a private jet was blocked from taking off from a London airport while it was investigated for possible links to Russia.
Another was impounded at Hampshire’s Farnborough Airport just hours before it was due to fly to Dubai over possible connections to billionaire oil tycoon Eugene Shvidler, a friend of former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.
Sanctioned Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman last week pleaded with the UK Government for greater leniency.
Mr Fridman, 57, who is said to be worth $12.3 bn (£9.4bn) told Spanish newspaper El País that the UK authorities should grant him money to get a taxi to buy food, adding: “I don’t know if I will be able to live normally in London, nor if I can invite anyone to a restaurant.”
He also said he did not know if he would be able to continue living in his £65m mansion.
