The Prime Minister welcomed the announcement that Türkiye, Sweden and Finland have agreed a memorandum agreement, paving the way for Finland and Sweden’s accession to the alliance.

He said Finland and Sweden’s accession to NATO will make the alliance stronger as we look ahead to a more dangerous decade.

The Prime Minister praised President Erdoğan’s leadership on the issue of getting grain out of Ukraine. The Prime Minister stressed that President Putin’s ongoing blockade of Ukraine’s ports is creating an international humanitarian crisis, both in Ukraine and around the world. 

The leaders discussed deepening the UK-Türkiye relationship, particularly in technology and energy.

They agreed to look at measures to further improve business mobility between our two countries, helping to create jobs and boost economic growth for both the UK and Türkiye.

Thank you, Madam Vice President.

The United Kingdom congratulates the Special Rapporteur on his appointment and we thank him for this update. As this is the first Interactive Dialogue since the end of the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry, we would also like to take this opportunity to thank the former Commissioners for their important work.

Madam Vice President,

We note that there have been some positive developments in Burundi since the last report of the Commission of Inquiry. We welcome in particular the progress made on media freedom, including the easing of restrictions on some local and international news outlets.

Despite these positive steps, the UK remains concerned by the overall human rights picture in Burundi, particularly the targeting of political opposition figures, and we call on the Government to make further progress. We also urge Burundi to: undertake to cooperate fully with the Special Procedures Mandates of the Council, including the Special Rapporteur; re-engage with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights; and agree to the re-establishment of the OHCHR country office.

Special Rapporteur,

We would welcome your views on how the international community can best play its part in supporting the Government of Burundi to promote and protect the rights and freedoms of its people.

Thank you.

The Prime Minister reiterated his staunch support for Sweden and Finland’s NATO membership aspirations. He described their accession as a great step forward for NATO and welcomed the progress made since his visits to Sweden and Finland last month.

The Prime Minister said that the membership of two more pro-peace democracies will permanently strengthen our defensive Alliance, helping to keep us all safe.

The Prime Minister updated on his recent visit to Kyiv. The leaders discussed the need to oppose Russian threats and intimidation in all its guises. That includes by ensuring that the people of Ukraine have the tools they need to turn the tide in Putin’s futile war of aggression – they agreed that Putin is offering Ukraine no other option.

The Potanin Foundation was registered in 2006 and is a grant-making charity supporting its sister charity in Russia, the Vladimir Potanin Foundation. It has broad charitable objects which include advancing the education of the public in Russia and elsewhere.

Mr Potanin is the charity’s only member and has controlling rights, including trustee appointment and removal.

On 29 June 2022 the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office sanctioned Mr Potanin under the UK’s Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. Mr Potanin is now subject to a full asset freeze and his name appears on the ‘UK Sanctions List’ as a designated person.

The Commission’s position is that individuals subject to UK financial sanctions cannot control a charity.

The Commission opened an inquiry on 29 June 2022 to:

1. Consider the viability of the charity and how to safeguard its assets;
2. Examine the management and administration of the charity by its trustees including the role of Mr Potanin, as the charity’s founder, if any, in decision-making;
3. Review the relationship between the charity and the Vladimir Potanin Foundation in Russia and the management of grants awarded and associated risks.

The regulator has issued orders restricting certain actions without its prior consent, including restricting the charity’s bank account, preventing the charity’s trustees from parting with the charity’s assets, and restricting Mr Potanin’s ability to use his powers as the charity’s founder.. According to the charity’s most recently filed accounts, it has assets in excess of £95million.

The Commission may extend the scope of the inquiry if additional issues emerge.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. On 29 June 2022, Mr Vladimir Potanin was named by Her Majesty’s Treasury (‘HMT’) as a ‘designated person’ for the purposes of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.
2. The effect of designation with an asset freeze by the UK government, means it is prohibited to deal with the frozen funds or economic resources, belonging to or owned, held or controlled by a designated person. It is also prohibited to make funds or economic resources available, directly or indirectly, to, or for the benefit of, a designated person. Matters relating to sanctions should be directed at the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation.
3. Prior to the opening of the inquiry and following Mr Potanin’s designation by the Canadian and Australian governments, the charity’s Chair of trustees contacted the Commission to discuss the implications of this on the charity. At the Commission’s encouragement the Charity’s trustees submitted a serious incident report to the Commission and has continued to provide further information as requested.
4. The charity’s most recently filed accounts can be found on the register.
5. It is the Commission’s policy, after it has concluded an inquiry, to publish a report detailing what issues the inquiry looked at, what actions were undertaken as part of the inquiry and what the outcomes were. Reports of previous inquiries are available on GOV.UK.
6. The Charity Commission is the independent, non-ministerial government department that registers and regulates charities in England and Wales. Its purpose is to ensure charity can thrive and inspire trust so that people can improve lives and strengthen society.