*UK has announced a third tranche of sanctions under its Global HumanRights Sanctions Regime against 10 individuals and one entity from Russia,Venezuela, the Gambia and Pakistan for egregious human rights violations,including torture and murder.*

These sanctions, announced on International Human Rights Day, are part ofthe UK’s global human rights regime which gives the UK powers to stop thoseinvolved in serious human rights abuses and violations from entering thecountry, channelling money through UK banks, or profiting from our economy.

This is the third time the UK has sanctioned people or entities for humanrights violations and abuses under a UK-only regime, with the first in Julyand the second in September 2020.

This is also the second time the UK has worked alongside allies to announcesanctions, with the US also announcing their own measures today. In total,the US and the UK designated 31 actors today for their involvement inserious human rights abuses.

· In Russia, the UK is imposing sanctions, including travel bansand asset freezes, against three individuals and the Terek Special RapidResponse Unit responsible for torture and other human rights violationsagainst LGBT people in Chechnya.

· In Venezuela, sanctions will be imposed on senior security figuresresponsible for human rights violations in Maduro’s illegitimate regime.These designations are a timely reminder of the crisis in Venezuela, comingas they do so soon after the illegitimate Maduro regime organised deeplyflawed National Assembly elections on 6 December.

· The former president of the Gambia, Yahya Jammeh, and Ahmad AnwarKhan, the former senior superintendent of police in Malir District,Pakistan are also facing sanctions for historic human rights violationsincluding extrajudicial killings of protestors and minority groups.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: “Today’s sanctions send a clearmessage to human rights violators that the UK will hold them to account.

“The UK and our allies are shining a light on the severe and systematichuman rights violations perpetrated by those sanctioned today. GlobalBritain will stand up for democracy, human rights and the rule of law as aforce for good in the world.”

Underlining the UK’s position as a global force for good, this regimeshowcases commitment to the rules-based international system and tostanding up for victims of human rights violations and abuses around theworld.

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