Giles Watling MP, Member of Parliament for Clacton, has voted in favour of expanding UK sanctions to Belarus.
Sitting on the Legislative Committee to amend The Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2023, Mr Watling supported the moves to extend sanctions against Russia - instituted in the wake of their 2022 Invasion of Ukraine - to neighbouring Belarus.
Mr Watling said:
"The Wagner group started a rebellion against Putin and, in order to regain control, Putin offered for the group to be relocated in Belarus, arguably Russia's greatest supporter in their illegal war. Belarus must be contained and held responsible, so yesterday I sat on the legislation committee which expanded our sanctions to include Belarus. It's vitally important that all those promoting this horrific, senseless war are cut off from the supplies that succour them."
The sanctions arrive just as the press report that Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of Russian mercenary outfit The Wagner Group, has been spotted in Minsk, Belarus, after ceasing his march on Moscow over the weekend. Mr Prigozhin's whereabouts and motives for relocating are as yet unknown.