RUSSIAN BILLIONAIRE ALISHER Usmanov, who has ties to Everton, is being hit with sanctions in the UK under measures to pressure Vladimir Putin over his invasion of Ukraine.
The Foreign Office was also preparing to announce sanctions against former Russian deputy prime minister Igor Shuvalov on Thursday evening after the move was signed off by Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, the PA news agency understands.
Roman Abramovich, who says he will sell Chelsea, is not expected to be on the latest tranche of sanctioned oligarchs after it was conceded it could take “weeks and months” to build legally sound cases.
But Ms Truss will establish an Oligarch Taskforce of ministers and officials from departments including the Home Office, the Treasury and the National Crime Agency to co-ordinate sanctions and build cases against targets.
The move came after a Government source acknowledged to the PA news agency that it could take “weeks and month” to build a legally watertight case against some Russian oligarchs.
“We’re working round-the-clock and going as quick as we can,” the source added, with Ms Truss understood to have tripled the size of the sanctions team in recent months.
Mr Usmanov, whose commercial ties with Everton have been suspended, has already had his assets frozen as part of measures taken by the European Union.
On Wednesday, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer questioned why Mr Shuvalov, who served under Mr Putin as his deputy prime minister, had not been sanctioned.
Mr Shuvalov owns property in Westminster and is the chair of the management board of VEB, one of the sanctioned Russian banks.
Ms Truss said: “Our message to Putin and his allies has been clear from day one – invading Ukraine would have serious and crippling economic consequences.
“Sanctioning Usmanov and Shuvalov sends a clear message that we will hit oligarchs and individuals closely associated with the Putin regime and his barbarous war. We won’t stop here. Our aim is to cripple the Russian economy and starve Putin’s war machine.”
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I’m probably going to be panned for this but anyway. I’ve the height of respect for what the Irish women’s team have achieved in recent years. Breaking the English stranglehold on the 6N and winning that Grand Slam, beating NZ in the World Cup and so on.
But is it not bizarre that a woman like Tyrell, even an obviously highly talented one, can take up a completely new sport and make the Irish team within 18 months, an Irish team that we place on a huge pedestal? There’s surely no other sport where you could do that.
She’s obviously well-suited to the game and good luck to her (and the team) but it does make you question the quality that’s there a little bit.
in fairness look at the number of irish rugby internationals who took up rugby late and went on well…… john hayes comes to mind who had a similar start to rugby as Hannah Tyrrell being introduced to the game by friends….i wouldnt say its a massive lack of depth id say shes got the skills and abilities to play rugby for ireland and she did work her way up.
Hi Colm, there’s no question she has the skills and abilities to represent Ireland and, as I said, good luck to her. But you can’t just take up athletics, soccer, swimming, gymnastics, basketball etc and make the Irish team within 18 months. I know women’s rugby is still relatively new in this country and it has to start somewhere so it’s not a slight on her or the team.
It’s true that John Hayes was late taking up rugby but he first played for Bruff in 1992 when he was 18 and first played for Ireland in 2000. He really had to work his way up to get to the top level. I think that’s a completely different scenario in fairness.
The answer to this is the GAA. the basic skills learned in football can be applied to rugby, soccer, Aussie rules, etc… The skills of hurling lead to good golfers, tennis player, hand to eye coordination…. etc.
The “ABC” is what it is all about … A for athleticism, B for balance, and C for Coordination. This is Foundation Level GAA coaching.
Really think that GAA players have a lot to offer in sevens rugby. In particular for youth players, much was said about the size factor in the U20 World Cup but believe that an Irish Youth sevens team would not have that problem and would find an Olympic experience a bigger draw.
Rather than question the fact that you can make such a decision, support the girl. I know you most likely already do but did you ask this same question on every other athlete who switched sports? Anyway I’m not slating in case it sounds that way you’re right to ask :)