The UK’s Home Office has made a significant announcement, declaring the Russian-based Wagner mercenary group a terrorist organization. Here are the key details:
A draft order will be presented in parliament, making it illegal to be a member of or support the Wagner group in the UK. Wagner has played a major role in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine since February 2022 and has been actively involved in conflicts in Syria, Central African Republic, Sudan, and Libya. The decision to label Wagner as a terrorist organization under the Terrorism Act 2000 is based on the nature and scale of the group’s activities and the threat they pose to British nationals overseas.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman characterized Wagner as a violent and destructive organization that serves as a military tool of Vladimir Putin’s Russia. She emphasized that Wagner’s actions align with the Kremlin’s political goals and highlighted their involvement in looting, torture, and brutal murders. Despite the death of Wagner’s chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in a plane crash last month, the group’s destabilizing activities have continued. Prigozhin’s attempt at a short-lived armed rebellion against Russia’s military leadership had posed a significant challenge to Vladimir Putin’s authority.
The UK’s decision to designate Wagner as a terrorist organization reflects the international community’s concerns about the group’s actions and their impact on global security. It also reaffirms the UK’s commitment to supporting Ukraine in its struggle against Russia.
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SOURCE
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-06/uk-to-declare-wagner-group-a-terrorist-organisation/102823446
https://time.com/6311242/the-u-k-says-it-will-declare-russias-wagner-group-a-banned-terrorist-organization/
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/sep/05/home-office-to-declare-wagner-group-a-terrorist-organisation