Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 July 2025.

Ambassador Holland welcomes Moldova’s continued efforts to safeguard electoral integrity and counter foreign malign interference.

The United Kingdom reaffirms its strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova, and for its European trajectory. As Moldova prepares for its parliamentary elections on 28 September, we commend the Moldovan people’s commitment to democratic reform and resilience. Moldova continues to play a constructive role in promoting stability and security across the European continent.

Today, we are honoured to welcome President Maia Sandu to the United Kingdom for meetings with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and His Majesty King Charles III. Her visit underscores the deepening partnership between our countries and our shared commitment to democratic values, security, and prosperity.

We remain deeply concerned by the Russian Federation’s ongoing hybrid aggression against Moldova, including information manipulation, cyberattacks, and malign political interference. These actions aim to destabilise Moldova’s democratic institutions and obstruct its sovereign choices – behaviour that is incompatible with OSCE principles.

We welcome Moldova’s efforts to safeguard electoral integrity and counter foreign malign interference, and we encourage continued cooperation with OSCE institutions.

The UK continues to support Moldova’s institutional reforms, including strengthening the judiciary and anti-corruption efforts, to help build a resilient, democratic society anchored in European values. Moldova’s future must be decided by its citizens, free from coercion or intimidation.

Thank you, Mr Chair.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 July 2025.

Ambassador Holland welcomes the OSCE Programme Office’s engagement with the Government of Tajikistan during the reporting period, and its continued focus on promoting gender equality, fostering cross-border cooperation and supporting penal reforms.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I warmly welcome Ms. Turcan to the Permanent Council and thank you for stepping into the leadership role during this transitional period. Strong leadership and reliable resourcing are essential for OSCE field missions to function effectively. We again urge participating States to resolve the budget impasse and ensure all OSCE institutions – including the Border Management Staff College – are adequately funded.

I would like to highlight several areas of the Programme Office’s work that are of particular importance to the UK.

First, the Mission’s efforts to promote gender equality and support survivors of domestic violence through Women’s Resource Centres and police capacity building. These centres provide vital shelter and services, helping women escape cycles of abuse and rebuild their lives. The UK remains deeply committed to addressing gender-based violence.

Second, the Programme Office’s role in fostering cross-border cooperation and regional security. We commend Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic for their leadership in peacefully resolving border disputes. These diplomatic achievements underscore the value of dialogue. The UK remains committed to working with Tajikistan, its neighbours, and the OSCE to address regional challenges, including those stemming from Afghanistan.

Third, we commend the Mission’s work in the human dimension, particularly on penal reform and embedding human rights in government training. We also welcome efforts to strengthen media standards. We note with regret that ODIHR’s observation mission were unable to implement their mandate for the elections in March and encourage all relevant parties to facilitate the required access in the future.

I would also like to commend the Government of Tajikistan for their continued leadership on climate and water security, not least demonstrated by their co-hosting of the International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation earlier this year resulting in the adoption of the Dushanbe Declaration. As climate change makes water access more competitive and harder to manage, cooperation and solutions become more vital.

Finally, we support Tajikistan’s ambitions for sustainable economic growth. Achieving this requires a stable, transparent investment climate grounded in the rule of law. This will attract quality foreign investment and create clean, inclusive growth for Tajik citizens.

Madam Chair, in closing, I thank Ms. Turcan again for her report and wish her continued success.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 July 2025.

Ambassador Holland commits to continuing to highlight and condemn Russia’s attacks against Ukraine for as long as Russia insists on carrying them out. Doing so is necessary because of the obvious humanitarian imperative but it is also a question of living up to our promises to one another when we signed the Helsinki Final Act.

Thank you, Mr Chair.

Mr Chair, there have been 120 Permanent Councils and 46 Special and Reinforced Permanent Councils since Russia launched its illegal full scale war of aggression on Ukraine in February 2022.  The UK has spoken on each of these occasions, highlighting Russia’s violation of the Helsinki principles and the Final Act.

Next week we gather in Helsinki to mark 50 years of the signature of the Final Act. This should have been a moment to reflect on its positive and historic legacy; alongside the UN and Paris Charters, it has set the standards by which we should treat each other and our citizenry. Instead we are travelling to Finland with drones still pummelling Ukrainian civilian targets indiscriminately and an unapologetic Russia refusing to take the outstretched hand of peace offered to them by the victim of their aggression, Ukraine.

The UK deeply regrets that there is still no sign of a let up in these attacks on civilians. One of the latest of these was an attack on the entrance to a metro station providing shelter to Ukrainian civilians escaping Russian bombardment. The Russian State evidently want as many Ukrainian people to be terrorised as possible. The UK will continue to highlight and condemn them for as long as Russia insists on carrying them out. As well as an obvious humanitarian imperative, doing so is also a question of living up to our promises to one another when we signed the Helsinki Final Act.

Thank you, Mr Chair.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 July 2025.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council open debate on maintaining international peace and security.

I welcome the opportunity today to discuss the OIC’s important cooperation with the UN on the resolution of conflicts and securing lasting peace and prosperity.

I will make three points, President.

First, the United Kingdom welcomes the efforts of the OIC to strengthen its role in conflict prevention, confidence-building, peacekeeping and mediation.

In particular, we thank OIC members for their invaluable commitment of troops to UN Peacekeeping Operations.

Effective cooperation and sharing of information between the UN and the OIC is important for developing coherent strategies for conflict prevention to support national prevention efforts.

Second, the United Kingdom values the role of the OIC and its Member States as a key partner in our shared fight against terrorism and violent extremism.

This requires a multi-dimensional approach with the support of all relevant UN agencies, regional organisations, governments and civil society partners.

We encourage the UN and the OIC to maintain close coordination to ensure the protection of human rights while countering terrorism.

Third, the United Kingdom welcomes its broadening and deepening relationship with the OIC and its members, including this week hosting the OIC’s International Academy of Jurisprudence to strengthen collaboration on key issues and interfaith dialogue.

We value this collaboration not least because inclusive governance and respect for human rights are fundamental underpinnings of peace and prosperity. And the United Kingdom firmly believes the right to freedom of religion or belief has a crucial role to play in this regard.

Religious intolerance and persecution fuel instability, impeding both conflict prevention and resolution, as we sadly see in a number of the conflicts on this Council’s agenda.

That is why the United Kingdom was proud to co-pen Security Council resolution 2686 with the United Arab Emirates in 2023. This was the first time a Security Council resolution had directly addressed the persecution of religious minorities in conflict settings. We remain committed to the full implementation of resolution 2686.

In conclusion, President, when freedom of religion or belief is respected for all, and interreligious dialogue is promoted, we can build trust and understanding between communities, helping to secure sustainable peace.

Thank you, President.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 July 2025.

UK and 40 other countries invoke the Moscow Mechanism to address ill treatment of prisoners of war by the Russian Federation.

Thank you, Chair.   I will deliver an abridged version of this statement this afternoon. The full statement will be circulated in writing and I request that it be attached to the Journal of the Day.

I am delivering this statement on behalf of the following participating States: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,  Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,  Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,  San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Today, our delegations will send the following letter to ODIHR Director Maria Telalian, invoking the Moscow Mechanism, with the support of Ukraine, as we continue to have concerns regarding violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law following Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, including with regard to ill treatment of Ukrainian Prisoners of War (POW).

Director Telalian,

With Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine in its fourth year and as Russia’s illegal occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol and certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine has entered its eleventh year, we continue to witness large scale human suffering and alarming reports of violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) and of international human rights law (IHRL), many of which may amount to the most serious international crimes.

Against the backdrop of the full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, launched by the Russian Federation on February 24, 2022, a number of credible sources, including the Moscow Mechanism expert missions, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry, as well as civil society organizations, have reported that the Russian Federation has consistently violated the rights of prisoners of war (POWs) throughout their detention and at multiple detention facilities within the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and the Russian Federation. There have been credible reports that the extensive and routine torture and ill-treatment of Ukrainian POWs throughout their detention constitutes a continued systematic pattern of state policy and practice by the Russian Federation. Torture follows common patterns across different locations, indicating it is a coordinated, deliberate, and systematic practice.

In 2022, 2023 and 2024, 45 OSCE Delegations, following bilateral consultations with Ukraine under the Vienna (Human Dimension) Mechanism, invoked Paragraph 8 of the Moscow (Human Dimension) Mechanism. The reports of the independent missions of experts, received by OSCE participating States, confirmed our shared concerns about the impact of the Russian Federation’s invasion and acts of war, its violations and abuses of IHRL, and violations of IHL in Ukraine.

We remain particularly alarmed by the findings of the expert missions that some of the violations may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity as well as the identification of patterns of reported violations of IHL and IHRL regarding the treatment of prisoners of war.

The prohibition against torture in international law is absolute.  Parties to an armed conflict are obliged to ensure the rights of POWs as set out in the Third Geneva Convention of 1949 relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War and Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions. Prisoners of war must at all times be protected, particularly against acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity. No physical or mental torture, nor any other form of coercion, may be inflicted on prisoners of war to secure from them information of any kind whatever. Prisoners of war who refuse to answer may not be threatened, insulted or exposed to unpleasant or disadvantageous treatment of any kin Torture and inhuman treatment of POWs are grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions, and likewise war crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

ODIHR’s Ukraine Monitoring Initiative has continued to identify patterns of reported IHL and IHRL violations related to the treatment of Ukrainian POWs including in their Sixth Interim Report of 13 December 2024 and their Seventh Interim Report of 15 July 2025. Interviews with survivors and witnesses attested to a continued practice of systematic torture and other IHL and IHRL violations perpetrated against Ukrainian POWs  prompting serious concerns about the Russian Federation’s failure to comply with the fundamental principles that govern the treatment of POWs.

In equal measure, the OHCHR and the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) have reported on the systematic and widespread use of torture of Ukrainian POWs by Russian authorities. In its March 2023 report, the HRMMU documented violations of IHRL and IHL in 32 of 48 detention facilities in Russia and Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, related to torture and other ill-treatment,  dire conditions of internment  including inadequate quarters, food, hygiene, and medical care, along with restricted communication, forced labor, and a lack of access of independent monitors. .  Many were held incommunicado deprived of the possibility to communicate with family or the outside world. Russian authorities subjected Ukrainian POWs to unlawful prosecutions for mere participation in hostilities; using torture to extract confessions; and denying fair trials.

According to witness testimonies, there were numerous incidents whereby POWs died in captivity due to execution, torture, ill-treatment and/or inadequate medical attention as well as inhumane conditions during their captivity.

The OHCHR’s October 2024 Report on the Treatment of Prisoners of War further documented detailed and consistent accounts of torture or ill treatment in Russian Federation custody.

Survivors have described the wide-ranging methods of torture or ill-treatment of Ukrainian POWs including: severe physical beatings; electrocution (including the targeting of genitalia); excessively intense physical exercise; stress positions; dog attacks; mock executions (including simulated hangings); threats of physical violence and death; sexual violence, including rape; threats of rape and castration; threats of coerced sexual acts; and other forms of humiliation.

Since the end of August 2024, OHCHR also has recorded a significant increase in credible allegations of executions of Ukrainian servicepersons captured by Russian armed forces, involving at least 97 individuals.

The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine (UN COI) stated on 23 September 2024 that it has evidence of widespread and systematic torture by Russian authorities against Ukrainian civilians and POWs in the temporarily occupied territories and in Russia. They concluded that torture follows common patterns across different locations, indicating it is a coordinated practice.  In their March 2025 report, the UN COI again called on the Russian Federation to immediately end the widespread and systematic use of torture and other forms of ill-treatment committed against civilian detainees and prisoners of war

The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine is investigating the reported execution of 273 Ukrainian POWs, including 208 who were reportedly executed on the battlefield and 59 in the ‘‘Olenivka’’ colony. However, the real number of those executed is likely much higher.

We are deeply concerned about the severity and frequency of these violations and abuses. We are particularly appalled by reported executions of Ukrainian POWs and Ukrainian soldiers rendered hors de combat upon their surrender and by the desecration/mutilation of bodies.  We are also deeply concerned with the practice of filming and distributing images of these abhorrent incidents.

Following grave concerns over the ill-treatment of Ukrainian POWs, highlighted, inter alia, by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the OSCE, we call on all parties to the armed conflict ensure that POWs are treated in full compliance with IHL.

We recall that OSCE participating States have committed themselves to respect IHL, including the Third Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War of 1949, bearing in mind that the willful killing, torture, inhuman treatment, causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or health of persons protected under the Geneva Conventions, including prisoners of war, constitutes a war crime. No prisoner of war may be subjected to physical mutilation or to medical or scientific experiments of any kind which are not justified by the medical, dental or hospital treatment of the prisoner concerned and carried out in his interest. Likewise, prisoners of war must at all times be protected, particularly against acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity.

We also recall that the prohibition of torture is a peremptory norm of international law without territorial limitation, which applies at all times and in all places.   Measures of reprisal against POWs are prohibited.

We call on the Russia Federation to end the torture and ill-treatment of all detainees and ensure adequate conditions of detention including the provision of basic needs such as food, water, clothing, and medical care. We further call for providing timely and accurate information on detainees’ whereabouts and legal status, and for granting international humanitarian organizations, like the International Committee of the Red Cross, unfettered access to such persons.

Gravely concerned by the continuing impacts of Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, and gravely concerned by credible allegations of the torture, ill-treatment and executions of Ukrainian POWs, and soldiers hors de combat, the delegations of Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,  Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,  Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,  San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, following bilateral consultations with Ukraine under the Vienna Mechanism, invoke the Moscow (Human Dimension) Mechanism under Paragraph 8 of that document.

We request that ODIHR inquire of Ukraine whether it would invite a mission of experts to build upon previous findings, and:

To establish the facts and circumstances surrounding possible contraventions of relevant OSCE commitments; violations and abuses of human rights; and violations of IHL, including possible cases of war crimes and crimes against humanity, related to the treatment of Ukrainian POWs by the Russian Federation ;

To collect, consolidate, and analyse this information including to determine if there is a pattern of widespread and systematic torture, ill-treatment and execution of Ukrainian POWs and soldiers hors de combat and/or at detention facilities by the Russian Federation in the temporarily occupied territories and in Russia and

To offer recommendations on relevant accountability mechanisms.

We also invite ODIHR to provide any relevant information or documentation derived from any new expert mission to other appropriate accountability mechanisms, including the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine or the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, as well as national, regional, or international courts or tribunals that have, or may in future have, jurisdiction.

Thank you for your attention.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 July 2025.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council open debate on the Middle East Peace Process.

My Foreign Secretary has been unequivocal: the war in Gaza must end now. Hamas and Israel must both commit to a ceasefire now.

A ceasefire is within reach and we urge all sides to make it a reality, to secure the release of the hostages, who have been cruelly held by Hamas since 7 October, and to end the appalling suffering of Palestinian civilians.

I will make three points.

First, the Israeli aid system is inhumane, ineffective, dangerous and fuelling instability. Reports and images this week of children dying from starvation are beyond horrific.

The IDF is shooting at desperate Palestinian civilians on an almost daily basis. Hamas is exploiting this disorder.

We call on Israel to end these attacks, hold those responsible to account and to work with the UN to implement effective aid distribution in line with humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law.

And let me reaffirm the UK’s firm and unequivocal support for the UN and OCHA in their brave efforts to get aid into Gaza.

We also condemn recent strikes on the WHO in Deir al Balah. Humanitarians and civilians must be protected.

Second, we condemn Defence Minister Katz’s proposals of forced displacement to Rafah. Illegal settlement expansion in the West Bank continues at pace as well as settler violence, and even terrorism, against Palestinians. This is an accelerating campaign to prevent a Palestinian state.

We condemn these attacks and call for Israel to hold its citizens to account.

We also oppose the reintroduction of the E1 settlement plan, which is a flagrant breach of international law.

Third, we are clear that Hamas must play no future role in the governance of Gaza or be able to threaten Israel’s security again. However, the organisation which represents a credible alternative to Hamas, the Palestinian Authority, is being undermined by Israeli actions.

Israel is withholding $2.6 billion in clearance revenues, crippling the Palestinian economy and pushing essential health and education services to the brink. This is not conducive to Israel’s security.

President, the United Kingdom is resolute in our commitment to a two-state solution and my Foreign Secretary has been clear that we are prepared to take further action to prevent the forcible erosion of the only viable path to lasting peace.

Next week’s conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, is a vital opportunity to demonstrate the strength of international resolve to secure a better future for Israelis, Palestinians and the region.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 July 2025.

Ambassador Neil Holland reiterates UK support for Ukraine, calls for Russia to agree an immediate ceasefire, and underlines the enduring value of the Forum for Security Cooperation for risk-reduction messaging.

Thank you to Undersecretary for Political Affairs, Mr Roger, for his remarks. Madam Chair, dear Kaja, thank you also for your calm and professional stewardship of this Forum this Trimester.

As I have said before, our Ministers mandated the Forum to continue our politico-military dialogue even in times of crisis.  That is why we used our weekly statements to reiterate our support for Ukraine. It is why we continued to call on Russia to agree an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, and to return to abiding by the principles of the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act.  And it is why we supported Estonia’s three Security Dialogue topics to keep the focus on Russia’s war of aggression.

Madam Chair, our Ministers also mandated our Forum with risk-reduction.  It is in this spirit that we have continued to use this Forum in good faith, including as a NATO Ally, to send and receive messaging. This includes voluntary briefs on above- and below-threshold military exercises, and asking questions to clarify our own understanding. We have done this, as a responsible State, to maintain dialogue in an appropriate and diplomatic manner. Because this is about our shared interests of reducing misunderstanding and preventing unintended escalation.

Let me conclude by thanking Spain as it leaves the FSC Troika, and to welcome France.  The incoming Chair, Finland, can count on the UK’s full and continued support next Trimester – including in its prerogative as FSC Chair.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 July 2025.

Gang ring leaders, key intermediaries and suppliers of people-smuggling equipment have today [July 23] been hit with the first ever sanctions targeting irregular migration by the UK.

• UK sanctions 25 targets at the heart of people-smuggling networks that drive irregular migration to the UK.
• Sanctions come on day 1 of the UK’s world-first dedicated sanctions regime targeting irregular migration and organised immigration crime.
• Action marks latest step in government’s campaign to secure Britain’s borders and reduce irregular migration, delivering on the Plan for Change.

Gang ring leaders, key intermediaries and suppliers of people-smuggling equipment have today [July 23] been hit with the first ever sanctions targeting irregular migration by the UK.

Today’s sanctions target individuals and entities involved in people-smuggling and driving irregular migration to the UK, from a small boat supplier in Asia, to informal Hawala money movers in the Middle East, to gang leaders based in the Balkans and North Africa.

They cover a range of different activities from supplying small boats explicitly for smuggling, to sourcing fake passports, middlemen facilitating illicit payments through Hawala, people-smuggling via lorries and small boats, and the gangland leaders themselves.

Sanctions can disrupt the flow of money and materials – including freezing property, bank accounts and other assets – which allow organised criminal gangs to operate this vile trade.

The plans are a key example of the FCDO using innovative foreign policy approaches to deliver on the government’s Plan for Change. The regime will be the world’s first dedicated to targeting people-smuggling and organised immigration crime, with the exploitation of vulnerable people by criminals and their associated networks being one of the key drivers of irregular migration to the UK.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:

This is a landmark moment in the government’s work to tackle organised immigration crime, reduce irregular migration to the UK and deliver on the Plan for Change.

From Europe to Asia we are taking the fight to the people-smugglers who enable irregular migration, targeting them wherever they are in the world and making them pay for their actions.

My message to the gangs who callously risk vulnerable lives for profit is this: we know who you are, and we will work with our partners around the world to hold you to account.

Among those sanctioned today is Bledar Lala, an Albanian who is in control of the ‘Belgium operations’ of an organised criminal group which smuggles migrants from Belgium across the English Channel to the United Kingdom.

Sanctions have also been brought against a company in China which has advertised their small boats on an online marketplace explicitly for the purpose of people-smuggling. The boats advertised are of the type used by criminal gangs in which migrants are packed, before being sent across the Channel at huge risk.

The UK is also sanctioning Alen Basil, a former police translator who went on to lead a large smuggling network in Serbia, terrorising refugees, with the aid of corrupt policemen. Basil was subsequently found to be living in a house in Serbia worth more than one million euros, bought with money extorted from countless desperate migrants.

Also sanctioned is Mohammed Tetwani, the self-styled “King of Horgos”, who brutally oversaw a migrant camp in Horgos, Serbia and led the Tetwani people-smuggling gang. Tetwani and his followers are known for their violent treatment of refugees who decline their services or cannot pay for them.

Today’s package also includes individuals like Muhammed Khadir Pirot, a hawala banker involved in informal money transfer networks, which people-smugglers use as a way of taking payment from migrants.

All of those sanctioned today are publicly named and barred from engaging with the UK financial system, helping to further undermine their operations.

NCA Director General Graeme Biggar said:

The NCA is determined to use every tool at our disposal to target, disrupt and dismantle the criminal networks involved in people-smuggling, preventing harm to those they exploit for profit and protecting the UK’s border security.

These new sanctions powers will complement that NCA activity. We have worked with the FCDO and partners to progress the designation of these sanctioned persons.

They will give the UK a new way of pursuing, undermining and frustrating the operational capability of a wide range of organised immigration crime networks, including those who facilitate or enable offending.

Today’s designations are the first made under the UK’s new Global Irregular Migration Sanctions Regime. The regime is a world first and empowers the FCDO to impose sanctions not only on individuals and entities involved in people-smuggling to the UK, but also any financiers and companies found to be enabling their activities.

The FCDO has worked closely with the National Crime Agency and other partners to develop its cases and ensure they complement law enforcement activity.

Today’s announcement is part of the FCDO’s three-pronged ‘disrupt, deter, return’ strategy to tackle irregular migration globally. In addition to disrupting organised immigration crime networks through sanctions, the FCDO works with source and transit countries to deter would-be migrants from making a dangerous journey in the first place and works with the Home Office to negotiate the return of people who have no right to be here to their countries of origin, including criminals and failed asylum seekers. Since the election, over 35,000 people have been returned, up 13% on the same period in the year before.

Background

The individuals and entities sanctioned today can be seen below:

Iraqi-linked people-smuggling

• Goran Assad Jalal, formed part of an organised crime group which stowed migrants in refrigerated lorries which crossed the English Channel from France to the United Kingdom on at least ten occasions between January and March 2019.
• Hemin Ali Salih, helped smuggle migrants into the UK in the backs of lorries.
• Dedawan Dazey, a people-smuggler who runs safe houses for migrants in Northern France before they are smuggled to the United Kingdom.
• Roman Ranyaye, an Iraqi people-smuggler responsible for the smuggling of migrants from Asia to Europe.
• Azad Khoshnaw, for supplying inflatable boats, onboard motors and other maritime equipment for use in people-smuggling of migrants from France to the UK.
• Nuzad Khoshnaw, for equipping gangs in Northern France with outboard motors, inflatable boats, and other maritime equipment for use in people-smuggling to the UK.
• Nihad Mohsin Xoshnaw, for providing inflatable boats, outboard motors and other maritime equipment used by migrants to cross the English Channel from France.

Hawala Network

• Muhammed Khadir Pirot, a hawala banker who controls payments from people being smuggled from the Kurdistan region of Iraq to Europe via Turkey.
• Mariwan Jamal, controls money movements through a Hawala banker, which handles payments to people smugglers from migrants in Iraq.
• Rafiq Shaqlaway, involved in hawala banking as an advisor to migrants looking to pay smugglers operating routes into Europe via Turkey.

North African gangs operating in the Balkans

• Kazawi Gang, a people-smuggling network which controls people-smuggling routes from North Africa into the EU known to deal out harsh punishments to migrants who are unable to pay.
• Tetwani Gang, known as one of the Balkan’s most violent people-smuggling gangs, members are reported to hold migrants for ransom and sexually abuse women unable to pay their fees.

Gangland bosses

• Bledar Lala, leads a smuggling ring moving people from Belgium across the English Channel to the UK.
• Alen Basil, a former police translator who through violence and intimidation became boss of a large people-smuggling network.
• Mohammed Tetwani, the head of the ‘Tetwani’ gang and self-styled “King” of Horgos in Serbia.
• Yassine Al Maghribi Al-Kasaoui, the boss of the “Kazawi” gang.

Balkan gangs supplying fake passports

• Kavač Gang, a Balkan organised crime organisation known to use fake passports to smuggle its gang members between the Balkans and Turkey.
• Škaljari Gang, an organised crime organisation in Montenegro that smuggles criminals between the Balkans and Turkey.
• Dalibor Ćurlik, procures fake passports and forged documents for use in the Kavač gang’s people-smuggling.
• Almir Jahović, member of the Kavač gang, which is involved in supplying fake passports for smuggling gang members across borders
• Marko Petrović, a member of the Kavač gang which sources false identification and passports for use in people-smuggling.
• Nikola Vein helps the Škaljari Gang secure fake passports and travel documents for use in people smuggling.
• Ratko Živković, a Škaljari Gang associate, which gathers fake passports for the purpose of smuggling gang members across borders.
• Dejan Pavlović, a member or close associate of the Škaljari Gang, which supports the manufacture of false identities and passports.

The following company based in China has been designated over the manufacture of inflatable boats being advertised for people smuggling.

• Weihai Yamar Outdoors Product Co

Background to the Global Irregular Migration sanctions regime

• Using the powers conferred by the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act (the Sanctions Act) the Government has laid secondary legislation before Parliament that introduces a new Global Irregular Migration sanctions regime. The Regulations will be debated by both Houses of Parliament when they return from the summer recess in line with the made affirmative procedure.

• An asset freeze prevents any UK citizen, or any business in the UK, from dealing with any funds or economic resources which are owned, held or controlled by the designated person. UK financial sanctions apply to all persons within the territory and territorial sea of the UK and to all UK persons, wherever they are in the world. It also prevents funds or economic resources being provided to or for the benefit of the designated person.

Travel ban

• A travel ban means that the designated person must be refused leave to enter or to remain in the United Kingdom, providing the individual is an excluded person under section 8B of the Immigration Act 1971.

Director disqualifications

• Where director disqualification sanctions apply, it will be an offence for a person designated for the purpose of those sanctions to act as a director of a company or to take part in the management, formation or promotion of a UK company.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 July 2025.

A joint statement by the Permanent Missions to the UN of the Dominican Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Guyana, Ireland, Mexico, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Norway, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

It is unacceptable that man-made and avoidable conflict-induced hunger continues to afflict civilians in Gaza. The prolonged suffering will have irreversible consequences that will last generations.

From the May IPC Special Snapshot, we know that the Gaza Strip is facing a critical risk of famine. The entire population is facing high levels of acute food insecurity, with 500,000 people facing starvation and more than 70,000 children set to require treatment for acute malnutrition.

The latest figures are even more disturbing, and we are witnessing increased deaths due to malnutrition. This follows sustained denial of essential humanitarian assistance to civilians by Israel.

To address this crisis, we call on all parties to fully comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law. In particular, we call on Israel as the occupying power to adhere to its obligations under international law and UN Security Council Resolution 2417. Israel must:

• Lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid and facilitate immediate, safe, rapid, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access by the UN and humanitarian organisations that ensures relief supplies at scale to civilians in need throughout Gaza.
• Facilitate the effective delivery of life-saving nutrition, health, water, sanitation and other essential services by the UN and humanitarian organisations, as well as the fuel needed to sustain them.
• Protect objects necessary for food production and distribution and facilitate the restoration of essential commercial supplies and market systems at scale.
• Urgently ensure the protection of civilians, including aid workers, UN and associated personnel, and medical personnel, and allow their unrestricted access.

We urge all parties to do everything to support efforts to reach agreement on a new ceasefire and hostage release deal. While humanitarian assistance is essential, the answer to conflict-induced hunger is peace.

We need to ensure accountability for actors who deliberately cause or prolong conflict-induced hunger in violation of international law. Using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare may constitute a war crime.

All Member States should use their influence to address conflict-driven hunger in Gaza and promote compliance by all parties to the conflict with international law.

We call for rapid and full implementation of humanitarian commitments made by Israel including the steps agreed between Israel and the EU to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza. This is imperative. We will follow delivery measures by Israel closely.

We must all support the work of the UN-coordinated humanitarian system in Gaza led by OCHA. It is best equipped to ensure aid is delivered to civilians, apply established strong aid diversion prevention systems and adhere with humanitarian principles.

UNRWA remains crucial to the delivery of humanitarian aid and essential services, despite increasing restrictions and attacks.

The new Israel-approved aid delivery model is dangerous and is not operating in accordance with humanitarian principles. We condemn the killing of well over 800 Palestinians, including children, seeking water and food.

The 20 July incident where people came under Israeli fire beside a WFP convoy was terrible. Humanitarian action must be based on humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence.

We condemn the heinous attack by Hamas on October 7 2023. Hamas must release all hostages unconditionally now.

Immediate action is needed to address this debilitating suffering.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 July 2025.

A Strategic Partnership between the UK and Egyptian governments.

The UK and Egypt share deep, historic ties. We partner across multiple fields, from climate change to global security, trade and investment to tourism, underpinned by rich people-to-people and cultural connections. However, both countries aspire to strengthen this co-operation in pursuit of shared prosperity and greater regional and global security.

The Governments of Egypt and the UK have therefore committed to elevating the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership. This commitment marks a significant milestone and will enable both governments to strengthen and systematise existing collaboration in line with shared interests and priorities such as trade and investment, irregular migration, regional security and responding to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The UK and Egypt will launch the Strategic Partnership during a visit to Cairo by the Prime Minister in the autumn of 2025. To unlock new mutual growth opportunities and strengthen economic ties, the Prime Minister and President Sisi will jointly chair an Investment Conference convening key British and Egyptian businesses.

The UK Government looks forward to building the Strategic Partnership with Egypt to enhance the prosperity and security of our citizens.