Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to introduce sanctions under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020 on (a) S.V. Kolesnikov, (b) Oleg Viktorovich Alypov, (c) Marina Andreevna Bobek and (d) Anna Evgenievna Potychko of the Prosecutors Office of the Russian Federation following the detention of Vladimir Kara-Murza.

The UK Government does not speculate on future designations as to do so could reduce their impact. To date, the UK has sanctioned more than 1200 individuals and 130 entities through its Russia Sanctions Regime. Under the UK's Global Human Rights Regime, the Government has sanctioned more than 80 individuals and entities.

The UK continues to raise Mr Kara-Murza's case with the Russian authorities and call for his release. British Embassy officials have attended Vladimir Kara-Murza's court hearings, the most recent being on 8 February. We will continue to attend, but remain vigilant to attempts by the Russian government to exclude diplomats from future hearings.