{"id":51914,"date":"2022-05-11T14:34:33","date_gmt":"2022-05-11T02:34:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/?p=51914"},"modified":"2024-07-12T11:14:42","modified_gmt":"2024-07-11T23:14:42","slug":"submission-support-petition-freeze-oligarch-assets-ukraine-war-sanctions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/publication\/submission-support-petition-freeze-oligarch-assets-ukraine-war-sanctions\/","title":{"rendered":"Submission in support of the Petition of Greenpeace Aotearoa to Freeze Oligarch Assets"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

To the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee<\/h2>\n\n

This is a submission by Greenpeace Aotearoa providing further evidence as requested by the committee in support of our petition (presented to the House of Representatives on 14 April 2022) calling on the Government to freeze Russian oligarch assets in New Zealand.<\/p>\n\n

Greenpeace is a global, independent campaigning organisation that acts to protect and conserve the environment and promote peace. Greenpeace has been operating since 1971, and now works in more than 55 countries. Greenpeace began as an organisation campaigning for peace, by \u2018bearing witness\u2019 against US nuclear testing off Amchitka Island, Alaska in 1971. While officially founded in 1974, Greenpeace Aotearoa first took part in protest action against nuclear weapons when Vega, renamed Greenpeace III,  sailed from Northland to protest French atmospheric nuclear testing at Moruroa Atoll in the Pacific in 1972 and again in 1973. Greenpeace Aotearoa has grown to represent 35,000 financial donors and many more tens of thousands of supporters. We have opposed military aggression across the world and the building of arsenals by superpowers. <\/p>\n\n

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February this year, it is once again crucial for people, Greenpeace, and governments to stand for peace against a significant nuclear threat.

As the true horror of Vladimir Putin\u2019s invasion of Ukraine is coming to light, the case for strong sanctions against Russian interests in Aotearoa grows painfully clear. Across the globe, Governments are sanctioning oligarchs as a way to pressure Putin to end the war.

While Greenpeace Aotearoa welcomes the introduction of the Russia Sanctions Bill, and the first tranches of sanctions that the New Zealand Government has introduced, we do not believe they go far enough. We call on the government to immediately freeze the New Zealand assets of every Russian oligarch.

If the New Zealand Government is serious about applying pressure to help stop President Putin\u2019s war on Ukraine, we need to see more than token sanctions and verbal condemnations. Every day this Government delays sanctioning the oligarchs close to Putin\u2019s regime with ties to New Zealand, you are not fully playing your part in global efforts to end the war in Ukraine. People are fleeing their homes and dying, and the threat of nuclear disaster looms. New Zealand has long been a strong voice for peace and your government needs to take stronger action on Ukraine immediately.<\/p>\n\n

Sanctioning Oligarchs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

Russian peace activists have indicated that sanctioning oligarchs is an effective way to pressure President Putin that does not add further misery to everyday Russian people, many of whom oppose the war on Ukraine, and face very significant consequences for speaking out.

Russia has the 5th highest number of billionaires of any country in the world. Russian oligarchs are not just wealthy people, but billionaires. To become a billionaire in Russia, one must have ties to Putin\u2019s regime. Oligarchs, by very definition, hold significant political influence through their wealth.

It is therefore not about weeding out the \u2018bad\u2019 oligarchs from the \u2018good\u2019 oligarchs and deciding which ones to sanction, but acknowledging that this small pool of ultra-wealthy, elite people, as a group, hold significant sway with President Putin\u2019s regime and the political system in Russia. This means that global pressure on this group can impact Russian politics, and influence Putin\u2019s decisions regarding the war in Ukraine. <\/p>\n\n

Over 15,000 people have signed our petition – within a very short space of time – calling for stronger action by the New Zealand Government to pressure Putin to end the horrific invasion of Ukraine, by freezing the assets of every Russian oligarch in Aotearoa.

If the Russia Sanction Act is to have any credibility, the list of those sanctioned must include Alexander Abramov. <\/p>\n\n

The case for sanctioning Abramov<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

The justification for sanctioning New Zealand\u2019s wealthiest Russian investor, Alexander Abramov is clear.<\/p>\n\n

Abramov is in the top 20 wealthiest Russian oligarchs list. He is co-founder and chairman of UK-based steel producer Evraz, with an estimated net worth of $5.9 billion. He also owns a luxury retreat in Helena Bay to which the ‘Ukraine Peace Flotilla<\/a>‘ sailed in March, calling on the Government to freeze the assets of oligarchs like Abramov.<\/a><\/p>\n\n

Abramov is the chairman and 29% shareholder in steel company, EVRAZ, which has been accused<\/a> of providing steel to build Russian tanks. In early May the UK placed sanctions on EVRAZ<\/a>, stating that the company\u201coperates in sectors of strategic significance to the government of Russia\u201d and the action would \u201cfurther chip away at Putin\u2019s financial reserves and siege economy, and support Ukraine\u2019s continued resistance\u201d.

Abramov also has close ties with fellow oligarch Roman Abramovich, the recent owner of Chelsea Football Club whose assets have been frozen by the UK over “clear links to Putin<\/a>“. The two oligarchs are investment partners in businesses across the world, including substantial ownership of EVRAZ.<\/p>\n\n

Vladimir Putin\u2019s biographer, Chris Hutchins, described the relationship between the Russian president and Abramov\u2019s business partner Abramovich, as \u2018like that between a father and a favourite son.\u2019<\/p>\n\n

The UK Government has also placed sanctions on the lesser oligarch Eugene Shvidler’s UK assets because of his business links to Roman Abramovich and EVRAZ.<\/p>\n\n

Abramov\u2019s assets were recently sanctioned by the Australia<\/a>n Government.<\/p>\n\n

Further evidence of Abramov\u2019s close ties with Putin include:<\/h3>\n\n