Protest at Conservative Party headquarters about Wolfson / Abramovich, 7 January 2026

On 6 January 2026 The Times published the following letter from 14 leading Ukrainian community activists in the UK, representing a wide range of organisations.

Sir, We are deeply concerned by the increasing political and legal indulgence of sanctioned Russian oligarchs in the UK. Ukrainians face daily missile strikes, blackouts and the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure, while more than 20,000 children have been abducted — a war crime that prompted the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin.

In this context it is alarming that Roman Abramovich, a sanctioned oligarch who has provided substantial revenue to the Russian state, is able to contest billions in frozen assets and delay funds intended to support Ukraine — and that he does so with the assistance of Lord Wolfson KC (“Shadow attorney-general’s job with Abramovich ‘indefensible’”, Dec 31).

When the shadow attorney-general chooses to represent a sanctioned figure with close links to Putin it risks signalling a return to “business as usual” with Russia. This cannot be dismissed as routine legal work. We urge the Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, to remove Lord Wolfson from his post. We also call on the government to introduce emergency legislation to prevent sanctioned individuals and the Russian Federation from exploiting the UK legal system, and to ensure that all frozen Russian assets are transferred to aid Ukraine’s defence and reconstruction.

Olena Ivashchenko, Campaign for Ukraine
Natalie Kopytko, Ukraine Solidarity Campaign
Yuliia Bond, Ukrainian Association of Wales
Mariia Pastukh, Vsesvit Ukraine solidarity collective
Yuliya Yurchenko, Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine
Olga Skatchko, Voices for Ukraine UK
Sofiia Lapina, UkrainePride
Maria Chocholak and Albert Salimov, Association of Ukrainians of Great Britain
Mykhailo Pollock, Reading Ukraine Community Centre
Mariia Kurinna, human rights advocate
Valeriia Voshchevska, Ukraine Solidarity Project
Steve Lelew, Dawn Dew Charitable Fund
Sasha Duncan, legal consultant, Humble Management

Additional signatories confirmed after the letter was submitted for publication:

Olena Halushka and Vlada Dumenko, International Centre for Ukrainian Victory
Hanna Hopko, National Interests Advocacy Network
Lesya Orobets, Price of Freedom

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