Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe released from prison
In March 2016, Ratcliffe, an Iranian-Britain dual citizen, was stopped and arrested without explanation whilst visiting her parents in Iran and placed in solitary confinement. In September 2016, after her trial, Nazanin was sentenced to five years in prison after a reported national security charge. In Spring 2020, Nazanin was placed under house arrest in Tehran where she was continuously watched. Then, in September 2020, she was once again taken to court and charged with “spreading propaganda against the system”. The British government has repeatedly called for her release, yet the Iranian government refused unless they were paid the £400 million debt that Britain owed Iran from the 1970s. Although Ratcliffe’s sentence was expected to end on Sunday 7th March 2021, she faced a second trial and after this, the Iranian authorities announced she was sentenced to one more year in prison.
However, after a total of 6 years in Iran, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is on her way home to the UK following the payment of the debt to Iran. She will return to her husband, Richard Ratcliffe who has been tirelessly campaigning for her release, and now seven-year-old daughter, Gabriella.
UK sanctions another Russian oligarch
Owner of Chelsea Football Club, Roman Abramovich, was sanctioned on the 10th of March the UK government, facing asset freeze and travel bans, over his “clear” links to Russian President Vladimir Putin. This comes after repeated calls the Johnson has not been doing enough to sanction Russian oligarchs with links to the UK. After Chelsea had been left in limbo due to the action, The Stamford Bridge club was given a special licence to continue operating by the UK government, due to its status as “a significant cultural asset”, but restrictions will now be placed on how the club operates, which will both impact on a sporting level and damage the club’s reputation. 5 days later the EU also announced sanctions on Abramovich.
UK searches for an alternative to Russian supplies
Prime minister, Boris Johnson, visited both the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday as he continues to look for an alternative to Russian oil and gas after Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine. Both the UK and the EU are severely limiting their use of Russian oil, both to punish Russia and become less reliant on the country too. Johnson has also called on allies to help deliver a further financial blow to Putin’s regime by reducing their consumption of Kremlin-controlled supplies. However, Johnson has received accusations of turning from one oppressive regime to others with their own poor human rights records. The Prime Minister refused to reveal whether he had reached an oil deal on his trip and what he had discussed about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record.
