Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to UK and international partners' condemnation of the Wagner Group’s plan to deploy mercenaries in Mali, published on 23 December 2021, whether she plans to follow the EU in establishing UK sanctions against (a) the Wagner Group or (b) individuals and entities associated with the Wagner Group.

In our joint statement with international partners on 23 December 2021, the UK condemned the deployment of Wagner Group mercenaries in Mali, noting the involvement of the Russian Federation Government. On 29 September 2021, I made clear the destabilising impact of Wagner Group and the multiple human rights abuses they commit, as seen in other countries affected by conflict.

Yevgeniy Viktorovich Prigozhin, who has close links to the Wagner Group, is designated under the UK Libya sanctions regime for providing support for Wagner Group's activities in Libya which threaten the country's peace, stability and security. It would not be appropriate to speculate on potential measures, as doing so could reduce the impact of any options used in the future. We will continue to closely monitor the situation.