BORIS Johnson is being accused of misleading the House of Commons while detailing his sanctions on Russian Oligarchs after the invasion of Ukraine.
Labour MP Chris Bryant alleged that Johnson had given a “false indication” after he claimed that the owner of Chelsea Football Club, Roman Abramovich, is already facing sanctions from the UK Government.
Abramovich has been highlighted for punitive measures since early last year when he was named by detained Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny in a list of people the UK should target to put pressure on Vladimir Putin.
The individuals on the list were described as “key enablers and beneficiaries of Russian kleptocracy, with significant ties and assets in the West”.
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However, the Prime Minister claimed on Tuesday that Abramovich “is already facing sanctions”.
Later in the session, Bryant asked the Prime Minister to correct the record as he claimed that this was untrue.
He said: “The Prime Minister said that Roman Abramovich has been sanctioned. As I understand it, that is not true. I’m sure the Prime Minister was completely inadvertent in giving a false indication but it would be helpful if the Prime Minister was to correct the record … These are important moments of fact.”
Boris Johnson walks out on Chris Bryant.
— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK) February 22, 2022
"I hope the PM can just stay for a brief moment, as it relates to what he said about Roman Abramovich. I don't think that's a courtesy to the house when the Prime Minister leaves in that way... " pic.twitter.com/hbAvHezCXk
As Bryant began speaking Johnson chose to quickly leave the chamber, which caught the ire of the Labour MP.
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Bryant said: “I don’t think that’s a courtesy to the house when the Prime Minister leaves in that way.”
The exchange has come in the wake of Johnson announcing punitive measures on five Russian banks and three “very high net wealth” individuals in a bid to crackdown on Russian aggression.
The measures have been put in place as a response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine which began earlier this week.
Later on Tuesday, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said that Johnson “misspoke”. An official has indicated that No 10 is expected to correct the record, with the Prime Minister confusing sanctions with a decision surrounding Abramovich's visa in October 2018.
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