• Kremlin imposed ‘officials’ in Luhansk and Donetsk sanctioned
• Russia’s Minister and Deputy Minister of Justice, who are supressing their own people, sanctioned
• Sanctions on two nephews of major Russian oligarch
• UK targets Syrian individuals undermining Ukrainian territorial integrity

The UK Government has today (26 July) sanctioned Vitaly Khotsenko and Vladislav Kuznetsov, the Russian-imposed Prime Minister and First Deputy Chairman of the so-called ‘Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics’, for undermining Ukrainian territorial integrity. Khotsenko and Kuznetsov have been sent to implement Russia’s policies across the invaded region, supporting Putin’s plans to illegally annex more of Ukraine and use sham referendums to falsely legitimise their occupation.

29 regional governors from across Russia have also been sanctioned today. The governors have been directed by the Kremlin to transfer funds to the so-called ‘Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics’, facilitating the Russian occupation in attempting to wrest territory from Ukraine.

The Russian Minister of Justice Konstantin Chuychenko and Deputy Minister of Justice Oleg Sviridenko are also being sanctioned today. The pair are suppressing their own people by targeting those speaking out against the war. They are expanding their power to repress Russian citizens’ freedom of speech by signing a new law that expands the criteria for “foreign agents” to include anyone who the authorities declare to be “under foreign influence”. Those found guilty will be branded as criminals and will be barred from receiving state financing, teaching at state universities, working with minors, or providing expertise on environmental issues.

Also sanctioned today are Sarvar and Sanjar Ismailov, nephews of major Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov who has close ties to the Kremlin. Both Sarvar and Sanjar have significant interests in the UK, it is believed that they own homes in Highgate and Hampstead Heath.

The Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said:

We will not keep quiet and watch Kremlin-appointed state actors supress the people of Ukraine or the freedoms of their own people.

We will continue to impose harsh sanctions on those who are trying to legitimise Putin’s illegal invasion until Ukraine prevails.

In coordination with the EU, the UK is also targeting two groups of Syrian individuals. One group is responsible for recruiting Syrians to fight in Russia’s war in Ukraine, while the other is supporting the repressive Syrian regime – perpetuating and benefitting from Putin’s agenda of international turmoil.

Today’s sanctions build on the UK’s hard-hitting sanctions package on Russia which includes designations on more than 1100 individuals and more than 100 entities. Additional powers have also recently come into force, including the prohibition of new UK investment into Russia, the banning of Russian gold from the UK’s world-leading bullion market, and further expanding of the criteria for who can be sanctioned.

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Pen profiles on main designations:

• Sanjar Ismailov, nephew of Alisher Usmanov (sanctioned in March) and son of Gulbakhar Ismailova (sanctioned in April). Usmanov was sanctioned for his association with Putin and for carrying on business in sectors of strategic significance through his holding company, USM Holdings. Sanjar Ismailov is subject to an asset freeze.

• Sarvar Ismailov, previously a director at Everton Football Club. Nephew of Alisher Usmanov (sanctioned in March) and son of Gulbakhar Ismailova (sanctioned in April). Usmanov was sanctioned for his association with Putin and for carrying on business in sectors of strategic significance through his holding company, USM Holdings. Sarvar Ismailov is subject to an asset freeze.

Officials:

• Vitaliy Pavlovich Khotsenko was appointed as so-called “Prime Minister” of the so-called “Donetsk People’s Republic” in eastern Ukraine in June 2022. Khotsenko is subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.

• Vladislav Garievich Kuznetsov was appointed as the so-called ‘First Deputy Chairman’ of the so-called ‘Luhansk People’s Republic’, a senior position within the illegitimate government of the Luhansk region in June 2022. Kuznetsov is subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.

Ministers:

• Konstantin Anatolyevich Chuychenko was appointed as the Russian Federation Minister for Justice in January 2020 having previously served as Deputy Prime Minister of Russia. He graduated from Leningrad Law School as part of a clique of other influential elites, including already-sanctioned Dmitry Medvedev. Chuychenko has also previously served in the KGB. Chuychenko is subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.

• Oleg Mikhailovich Sviridenko has been Russia’s Deputy Minister for Justice since 2020. Sviridenko graduated from the Faculty of Law of Moscow State University in 1989. Sviridenko is engaged in policies and actions which undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Sviridenko is subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.

Governors subject to a travel ban and asset freeze:

• Alexander Viktorovich Moor
• Alexander Vasilievich Bogomaz
• Roman Vladimirovich Starovoit
• Gleb Sergeyevich Nikitin
• Yevgeny Vladmirovich Kuyvashev
• Alexei Leonidovich Teksler
• Dmitry Igorevich Azarov
• Radiy Faritovich Khabirov
• Oleg Alekseyevich Nikolayev
• Alexander Viktorovich Uss
• Andrei Alexandrovich Travnikov
• Roman Viktorovich Busargin
• Alexander Alexandrovich Avdeev
• Denis Vladimirovich Pasler
• Andrei Ivanovich Bocharov
• Alexander Yurievich Drozdenko
• Maxim  Borisovich Egorov
• Oleg Aleksandrovich Kuvshinnikov
• Vladimir Viktorovich Uyba
• Vladislav Valeryevich Shapsha
• Vladimir Vladimirovich Vladimirov
• Aisen Sergeyevich Nikolayev
• Aleksandr Viktorovich Gusev
• Vasily Aleksandrovich Orlov
• Dmitry Andreevich Artyukhov
• Igor Georgievich Artamonov
• Viktor Petrovich Tomenko
• Mikhail Vladimirovich Razvozhayev
• Andrei Yuryevich Vorobyov

Syria designations under the Russia Regime:

• Muhammad Al-Salti is the Commander-in-Chief of the “Palestine Liberation Army”. Al-Salti is active in the enrolment of Palestinian refugees to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. Al-Salti is engaged in and providing support for policies and actions, which undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Al-Salti is subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.

• Abu Hani Shammout was the head of the Brigade Al-Ahdah Al-Omary, a Syrian military officer, Shammout is active in the enrolment of Syrian mercenaries to fight for the Russian forces in Ukraine and previously to fight in Libya. Shammout by virtue of his role in the enrolment of Syrian mercenaries to fight alongside Russian troops in Ukraine, is engaged in and providing support for policies and actions, which undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Shammout is subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.

• Nabeul Al-Abdullah is a commander of the National Defence Forces in the city of Suqaylabiyah. Al-Abdullah has been overseeing the recruitment of Syrian mercenaries to fight for the Russian forces in Ukraine. Al-Abdullah,is engaged in and providing support for policies and actions, which undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Al-Abdullah is subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.

• Simon Al-Wakil is a commander of the National Defence Forces in the city of Maharda (Hama). Al-Wakil collaborates directly with the command of the Russian forces in Syria and is active in the enrolment of Syrian mercenaries to fight for the Russian forces in and Ukraine. Al-Wakil, is engaged and providing support for policies and actions, which undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Al-Wakil is subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.

• Al-Sayyad Company for Guarding and Protection Services Ltd is a Syrian private security company. Al-Sayyad Company have been active in the protection of Russian economic interests in phosphates, gas and in securing oil sites in Syria and have recruited Syrian mercenaries to fight abroad in support of Russia’s interests including in Libya and Ukraine. Al-Sayyad Company by virtue of their role in the enrolment of Syrian mercenaries to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, is engaged in and providing support for policies and actions, which undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Al-Sayyad Company is subject to an asset freeze.

• Fawaz Mikhail Gerges is the CEO of Syrian private security company, Al Sayyad Company for Guarding and Protection Services. Al Sayyad company have been active in the protection of Russian economic interests in phosphates, gas and securing oil sites in Syria and have recruited Syrian mercenaries to fight abroad in support of Russia’s interests including in Libya and Ukraine. Gerges, as the CEO of Al Sayyad company, who have been is active in the enrolment of Syrian mercenaries to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, is engaged in and providing support for policies and actions, which undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Gerges is subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.

Syria designations under the Syria Regime:

• Saleh Al-Abdullah is a Brigadier General in the Syrian Armed Forces and is leader of the Sixteenth Brigade. Al-Abdullah, by virtue of his leadership role in the Syrian Armed Forces is and has been involved in repressing the civilian population in Syria. Al-Abdullah is subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.

• Sanad Protection and Security Services is a Syrian private security company established in 2017 and headquartered in Damascus. Sanad Protection and Security Servicers are active in the protection of Syrian regime and Russian economic interests in phosphates, gas and in securing oil sites and are supervised by the Wagner Group in Syria. Sanad Protection and Security Services is involved in supporting or benefiting the Syrian regime and is directly owned by persons involved in supporting or benefiting the Syrian regime. Sanad Protection and Security Services is subject to an asset freeze.

• Ahmed Khalil Khalil is the co-owner of Sanad Protection and Security Services. This is a Syrian private security company established in 2017 and headquartered in Damascus. Sanad Protection and Security Services are active in the protection of Syrian regime and Russian economic interests in phosphates, gas and in securing oil sites and are supervised by the Wagner Group in Syria. Khalil, by virtue of his position as a prominent person operating and controlling businesses in Syria and through his association with other persons involved, is involved in supporting and benefiting from the Syrian regime. Khalil is subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.

• Nasser Deeb Deeb is the co-owner of Sanad Protection and Security Services.  Sanad Protection and Security Services is a Syrian private security company established in 2017 and headquartered in Damascus. Sanad Protection and Security Services are active in the protection of Syrian regime and Russian economic interests in phosphates, gas and in securing oil sites and are supervised by the Wagner Group in Syria. Deeb Deeb, by virtue of his position as a prominent person operating and controlling businesses in Syria, and through his association with other involved persons with links to the Syrian regime, is involved in supporting and benefiting from the Syrian regime. Deeb Deeb is subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.

• Issam Shammout is a leading and prominent businessperson operating in Syria. Shammout is the owner of Cham Wings, a Syrian airline and Head of Shammout Group is his private business group, both of which have significant ties to the Syrian regime. Shammout, by virtue of his leadership role in Cham Wings, supports and benefits the Syrian regime and is associated with other involved persons with links to the Syrian regime. Shammout is subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.

The Charity Commission, backed by Welsh Government, has launched the Revitalising Trusts Programme in Wales to unlock up to £12 million of dormant charitable funds in Wales. The programme is urging trustees of inactive charities to come forward for support to put their charitable funds to good use.

The Charity Commission and Community Foundation Wales will support trustees to release inactive funds, redistributing these to good causes across the country through Community Foundation Wales. Alternatively, the Commission will support trustees to breathe new life into the charity, for example by changing their charitable purpose.

Charity trustees who find it hard to recruit new trustees, spend the charity’s income or assets, identify beneficiaries, or find time to run the charity should contact Revitalising Trusts for support. This includes charities who have not spent any money in the last five years, or who have spent less than 30% of its income in the last five years.

Trustees may have already received a letter from the Commission encouraging them to seek support to spend dormant funds. The programme is urging all trustees to consider if the Revitalising Trusts programme could help their charity fulfil its potential.

Tracy Howarth, Assistant Director of Casework at the Charity Commission, said:

In the current economic climate, following the pandemic and during a cost-of-living crisis, it’s more important than ever that charitable funds are being used to their full potential, to help improve lives and strengthen communities.

We know trustees have the best intentions, but it’s sometimes harder to transform this momentum into long-term action, or charities find they have run their course. Through Revitalising Trust Wales, we want to help trustees put the hard-fundraised money to good use, to make a real and positive difference to those who need it most.

If you think your charity could benefit from support to spend its funds, please do get in touch with us and we’ll help you work out the best next steps for your charity.

We realise that receiving a letter from the charity regulator may cause concern to trustees, but this is where Community Foundation Wales can help and support. There is no reason for this to be stressful, it can actually be a very positive experience for the trustees involved and their community. We can help the Trustees to change the charitable purpose of the trust or by releasing inactive funds and redistributing them to communities across Wales. We know Trustees worry about inactive funds. We can help them through this programme to ensure they are within Charity law and that their communities benefit as was originally intended from their funds.

As part of the Revitalising Trusts programme, Community Foundation Wales and the Charity Commission supported the Trustees of the T D Jones (Llanfair Clydogau) charity, who manage an education fund near Lampeter.

The Trustees were supported to widen the scope of the fund and transfer it across to Community Foundation Wales. This money is now being put to charitable use.

Paula Barker, Trustee of T D Jones (Llanfair Clydogau) said:

Like many small village churches, the congregation of ours has dwindled. As the secretary and church warden I found that among the many problems arising from this was what to do about a sum of money left for the charitable purpose of providing books for the Sunday school children. The objects had been altered to allow for help to the local school children, but the trustees of the charity were no longer in a position to act and no monies had been distributed.

It was with some relief that we received information about the Revitalising Trusts Programme. It seemed quite daunting to start with and the initial problem was tracking down the right signatories for the paperwork. However, Laura Cameron Long, the Programme Manager at UKCF, guided me through every step of the way. There proved to be no difficulty at all and the whole process of transferring the funds to Community Foundation Wales went without a hitch.

The most gratifying aspect of this is that the funds are now being of real help where needed and we feel sure that the original donor would approve of that.

Revitalising Trust Wales follows the campaign’s success in England, where nearly £80 million has been redistributed to local projects, to ensure it achieved maximum public good.

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Notes to Editors

1. 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.
2. Community Foundation Wales inspires people to give, helps Welsh communities to thrive and changes lives together. For over twenty years, Community Foundation Wales has been supporting charities and community groups with funding to strengthen communities across Wales. Working together with our donors and partners, we use our expert knowledge of the needs of communities in Wales to find and fund projects that create positive change.
3. There is more information about the Revitalising Trusts Programme on gov.uk.

The government is today inviting local councils across England to bid for funding from a £7 million pot to find innovative ways to improve the air quality in their areas.

The government’s Air Quality Grant helps councils develop and implement measures to benefit schools, businesses and communities and reduce the impact of air pollution on people’s health.

The grant will encourage and support projects that deal with improving air quality as well as improving knowledge about the health risks.

Local authorities across the country can bid for a portion of the fund for a wide range of projects to improve air quality and create cleaner and healthier environments. The criteria for this year’s grant period will prioritise three areas:

• Projects that reduce air pollution where there are nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exceedances;
• Projects focusing on improving public knowledge and information about air quality, including steps individuals can take to reduce their exposure to air pollution; and
• Projects that include measures to deal with particulate matter, which is the pollutant most harmful to human health.

Since it was established, the Air Quality Grant scheme has awarded more than £81 million to a variety of innovative projects. These have included a digital education package to teach children and parents about the health impacts of particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide, and the development of a community website to share air quality information and raise awareness with local residents and visitors.

These projects and many others funded by the grant scheme have contributed to the significant improvement in air quality seen in the UK in recent decades. Since 2010, levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) – particles or liquid droplets in the air which present the greatest risk to public health – have reduced by 11% while emissions of nitrogen oxides have fallen by 32% and are at their lowest level since records began.

Environment Minister Steve Double said:

“Air quality has improved significantly since 2010 but we know that it remains the biggest environmental risk to public health.

“This is why we have today opened applications for millions of pounds worth of additional funding for local authorities so they can take the action needed to cut air pollution and improve air quality awareness in their areas.

“Local authorities know their areas best, and we are excited to receive their ideas for innovative measures which will reduce the impact of air pollution on the health of their communities.”

Applications for the grant open from Tuesday 26 July and close on Friday 23 September.

The Air Quality Grant forms part of the wider UK plan for tackling roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations, which includes a £3.5 billion investment into air quality and cleaner transport. The plan is supporting the uptake of low emissions vehicles, getting more people to cycle and walk, and encouraging cleaner public transport.

Later this year we will be bringing forward two new ambitious air quality targets under our Environment Act to reduce the level of harmful fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air, the most harmful air pollutant for human health. In addition to this the Act has made it easier for local authorities to use their existing powers to tackle sources of air pollution in their areas, as well as for the Government to mandate recalls of vehicles when they do not meet legal emission standards.

The government has also taken action to cut pollution from household burning – a significant source of the particulate matter. A ban on the sale of coal and wet wood for domestic burning came into force in May last year.

Local Authorities in England are invited to apply via Bravo. Further details on how to apply are available on the Air Quality Grants GOV.UK page.