Category: Press Releases

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 May 2024.

The UK, US and Australia have sanctioned the Russian leader of cyber-crime gang LockBit.

• UK, US and Australia sanction Russian leader of cyber-crime gang LockBit
• LockBit were one of the most prolific ransomware groups in recent years, responsible for attacks on over 200 UK businesses and major public service providers
• UK and Allies crack down on malicious cyber-criminal activity emanating from Russia that seeks to undermine global integrity, prosperity and security

The UK, US and Australia have today (Tuesday 7 May) sanctioned a senior Russia-based leader of LockBit, once one of the world’s most pernicious cybercrime gangs.

Today’s sanctions target Russian national Dmitry Khoroshev who has been identified, as part of an ongoing international law enforcement investigation, as one of the leaders of LockBit, the ransomware group responsible for extorting over $1 billion from thousands of victims globally.

In February the NCA announced that it had infiltrated the group’s network and taken control of its services, compromising the entire criminal enterprise. The group has attempted to rebuild over the last 2 months, however the NCA assesses that as a result of this investigation, they are currently running at limited capacity and the global threat from LockBit has significantly reduced.

The gang was responsible for 25% of ransomware attacks globally last year, targeting thousands of victims over the years including over 200 UK businesses. LockBit orchestrated a malicious online campaign, illegally stealing and using sensitive data to extract billions of dollars from business and individuals.

Today’s measures will directly target a senior leader of the gang responsible for these atrocious attacks. Khoroshev will now be subject to a series of asset freezes and travel bans.

Sanctions Minister, Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:

Together with our allies we will continue to crack down on hostile cyber activity which is destroying livelihoods and businesses across the world.

In sanctioning one of the leaders of LockBit we are taking direct action against those who continue to threaten global security, while simultaneously exposing the malicious cyber-criminal activity emanating from Russia.

National Crime Agency Director General Graeme Biggar said:

These sanctions are an important moment in our fight against cyber criminals behind the LockBit ransomware group, which is now on its knees following our disruption earlier this year.

They have caused untold damage to schools, hospitals and major companies across the world, who’ve had to pick up the pieces following devastating cyber attacks.

Dmitry Khoroshev thought he was beyond reproach, even offering $10 million to anyone who could reveal his identity, but these actions dispel that myth. Our investigation into LockBit and its affiliates continues and, working with our international partners, we’ll do everything we can to undermine their operations and protect the public.

Eleanor Fairford, National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) Deputy Director for Incident Management, said:

Ransomware attacks pose a massive threat to UK businesses and their impacts can be severe and long-lasting, disrupting operations and putting potentially sensitive data at risk.

It is crucial organisations ensure they have strong online defences to reduce their risk of falling victim and to protect the information they are responsible for.

Prevention is the most effective mitigation, and we urge all organisations to follow the NCSC’s ⁠ransomware guidance to help protect their networks and improve their resilience to attacks.

The UK has sanctioned Khoroshev as part of our wider commitment to cracking down on malicious cyber activity and working with our international partners to promote international security and stability in cyberspace.

These sanctions have been delivered jointly with Australia and the US and are the latest in our efforts to counter malicious cyber-criminal activity emanating from Russia that seek to undermine the integrity, prosperity and security of the UK and our allies.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 May 2024.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the ECOSOC Financing for Development Forum.

Thank you, President.

Excellencies, Distinguished delegates,

We look forward to the Finance for Development conference next year as a pivotal opportunity for us to take stock of progress we’ve made, rally behind new critical collective actions and build consensus on further reforms.

Closing the financing gap to rescue the SDGs matters for all our 2030 Agenda objectives. From eradicating poverty to tackling climate change to promoting peace.

To close the gap, we need a build a bigger, better, and fairer financial system which is more responsive to the needs of developing countries and reflects the realities of the challenges we face today.

Firstly, we need to scale up finance from all sources, including the private sector and from MDBs.

Last week at the Springs, the United Kingdom pledged $125 million in hybrid capital to the World Bank. We did so alongside other donors and through leveraging our collective contributions could unlock an additional $70 billion of World Bank lending over the next decade.

Next, we must go further, including on stretching MDBs’ balance sheets and delivering an ambitious IDA replenishment.

The system must be more effective and shock responsive. We call on all creditors to offer climate resilient debt clauses, which pause debt repayments when disaster strikes, providing space for developing countries to respond.

And finally, it must be fairer too. This means greater representation and voice for the poorest and most vulnerable, including at the World Bank and IMF boards, tackling illicit financial flows, and helping countries access the revenues they are owed from tax.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 May 2024.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN General Assembly debate on the Outer Space Treaty.

On 24 April, the Security Council voted on a resolution tabled by the United States and Japan, which reaffirmed our commitment to the Outer Space Treaty. Thirteen Member States voted in favour. One, the Russian Federation, used its veto.

Outer space belongs to all humankind and space technologies are critical to our daily lives. From using maps and checking the weather on our phones, to international shipping and large-scale disaster risk reduction programmes, the far-reaching applications of space technologies are embedded in all of our economies.

For this reason, we need to protect and regulate the safe use of space, while taking appropriate steps to prevent it becoming the backdrop of the next arms race.

To that end, this draft resolution would have reaffirmed the existing obligation not to place nuclear weapons in orbit around the Earth. It also called on states not to develop nuclear weapons specifically designed for such purposes. After all, if states intend, as they must, to comply with the Outer Space Treaty, they shouldn’t be preparing to breach it.

The detonation of even a single nuclear weapon in space could destroy or permanently damage a significant proportion of satellites in orbit around Earth. The resultant radiation and debris would render many orbits unusable for a very long time. There would be highly disruptive and possibly life-threatening consequences for those essential applications, maps, weather, risk-monitoring, which would affect all states, not least developing nations.

The UK therefore voted in favour of this resolution.

There was nothing in this resolution that any law-abiding state committed to peace and the prevention of an arms race in outer space could reasonably object to.

And yet Russia did.

This is not the first, but the second draft Council resolution on nuclear non-proliferation which Russia has vetoed in just one month.

Russia vetoed the DPRK Panel of Experts’ mandate – despite, or rather, because of the Panel’s proven track record of exposing DPRK’s dangerous nuclear and missile programmes, in violation of Security Council resolutions.

Russia’s actions cannot be interpreted any other way. They are seeking to undermine the global non-proliferation architecture, and this should be of grave concern to us all.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 May 2024.

Statement from the UK at Slovakia’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Thank you, Madame Vice President.

We welcome the recent steps taken by Slovakia to reduce the  segregation of Roma children from mainstream education, though we note the persistent, systemic discrimination this minority faces.

We are concerned over recent reports that the protection of journalists in Slovakia is deteriorating. Many now face verbal attacks – including from politicians – and physical violence. It is also worrying how frequent the criminal offence of defamation is used to intimidate journalists and media outlets.

The various reported threats to the reproductive and sexual health rights of women in Slovakia is also of concern, especially the legislative attempts to further restrict access to safe abortions.

We recommend that Slovakia:

1. Adopts legislative measures aimed at protecting the safety of journalists and increasing media freedom, including repeal of defamation as a criminal offence.
2. Ensures access to safe abortion by removing legislative and non-legislative barriers, and protecting – rather than restricting – existing rights in the field of sexual and reproductive health.
3. Takes steps to protect journalists and human rights defenders from violence, harassment and intimidation – including from politicians – and to investigate all such incidents to enable such actors to carry out their activities in safe conditions.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 May 2024.

The UK’s statement at Comoros’ Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

The UK welcomes continued efforts to improve Comoros’ human rights situation, particularly efforts to improve maternal and child mortality rates, women’s rights and combating violence against women.

However, we note the allegations of fraud in relation to Comoros’ recent elections, which have damaged public confidence. We also remain concerned about continued restrictions to civic space and media freedom.

We welcome positive provisions in Comoros’ Family Code but remain concerned by the continued lack of rights and protections for the LGBT+ community, and the continued practice of child marriage.

We recommend that Comoros:

1. Take concrete steps based on open and inclusive public consultations to improve confidence in its electoral institutions, ahead of elections in 2025.
2. Remove restrictions on civic space, including the requirement for prior approval of peaceful demonstrations.
3. Repeal legislation criminalising homosexuality and ensure equal rights and protections for members of the LGBT+ community in Comoros.

Thank you.