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Written Question
Libya: Wagner Group
Tuesday 12th April 2022

Asked by: Lord Robathan (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the reported activity of the Wagner Group in Libya; and if they have made such an assessment, whether they have identified how those activities are funded.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Wagner Group continues to play a destabilising role in Libya. The withdrawal of foreign forces and mercenaries, including the Wagner Group, is one of the UK's top priorities in Libya. We have been clear that this should happen without delay as set out in the UK-led UN Security Council Resolution 2570. The Wagner Group is sanctioned under the UK's Russia sanctions regime and the UK continues to work with international and Libyan partners to restore Libya's sovereignty, put the country on a path to sustained peace, security and prosperity and reduce space for hostile actors.


Written Question
Venezuela: Wagner Group
Tuesday 12th April 2022

Asked by: Lord Robathan (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the Wagner Group's reported activities in Venezuela, including reports of involvement in gold mining.

Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

We are deeply concerned by Wagner Group deployments to the Central African Republic, Libya, Mali, Mozambique, Sudan, Syria and Ukraine. We continue to monitor reports of Russian mercenaries in Venezuela, including reports that mercenaries who are either part of or affiliated to the Wagner Group have conducted activities in support of the Maduro regime.

Illegal gold mining in Venezuela involves very serious human rights abuses at scale and is causing significant environmental and wider social damage, especially in the Arco Minero region. Russian private military companies are reported to be active in this area.


Written Question
Wagner Group
Tuesday 12th April 2022

Asked by: Lord Robathan (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what investigation, if any, they have undertaken into the Wagner Group and its sources of funding.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Wagner Group are a driver of conflict and capitalise on instability for their own interests. Wagner does not offer long-term security answers and operates opaquely. The Wagner Group is one of the over 1,000 individuals and businesses sanctioned under the Russia sanctions regime. It would not be appropriate to speculate on further potential Government activity, as doing so could reduce the impact of any options used in the future.


Written Question
Muslim Brotherhood
Monday 9th November 2020

Asked by: Lord Robathan (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the report by Sir John Jenkins Muslim Brotherhood review: main findings, published in December 2015, what recent assessment, if any, they have made of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government remains committed to reviewing any groups or individuals whose actions may pose a national security threat to the UK. These reviews are undertaken on the basis of credible evidence and we will continue to consider any new evidence on the Muslim Brotherhood's activities against the UK's legal thresholds.


Written Question
Ibrahim Mounir
Monday 9th November 2020

Asked by: Lord Robathan (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any Minister or Government representative has met Ibrahim Mounir since his appointment as Secretary General of the International Organisation of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

There have been no meetings between Ibrahim Mounir and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials or Ministers since the conclusion of the 2015 Muslim Brotherhood Review.