Russian media started to spread "news" about the UK "easing" sanctions regime against Russia for Crimean temporary occupation. In this regard, we note the following. On January 1, 2021, the post-Brexit transition period ended in the United Kingdom. Until that date, the EU law applied in the UK. As a non-EU member, the United Kingdom has begun the process of incorporating (transfer) EU sanctions regimes, in particular concerning the Russian Federation, into its own legislation. The information about any weakening of sanctions against Russia by the UK is not true. The Office for Financial Sanctions Implementation of the HM Treasury has published a General License, which replicates the EU's  derogation of 2017 from the sanctions regime against Russia, introduced by EU Council's decision 2017/1561 of 14 September 2017 which amended its decision 2014/145 / CFSP of March 17, 2014.

In particular, Article 2 of EU Decision 2017/1561 contains a list of certain cases of derogations from the above restrictions that are allowed and that will not be covered by the EU sanctions regime. In particular, satisfying the basic needs in the ports of Crimea - the purchase of food, medicine, payment for treatment. We are not talking about any other innovations. The United Kingdom supports the maintenance of the EU sanctions regime against Russia and in no way relaxes the existing restrictions.

EU Council decision 2014

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32014D0145 (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32014D0145)

EU Council decision 2017

 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32017D1561 (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32017D1561)

Investing in Crimea –EU information note

https://ec.europa.eu/docsroom/documents/27907/attachments/1/translations/en/renditions/native (https://ec.europa.eu/docsroom/documents/27907/attachments/1/translations/en/renditions/native)

OFSI HM Treasury General Licence

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/949118/General_licence_-_INT.2020.059_-_Publication_Notice.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3i50OQgvDqOTJys1WtACyPpqRvNpKJHFR26WkHSbj148RyGfToTEeAvzM (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/949118/General_licence_-_INT.2020.059_-_Publication_Notice.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3i50OQgvDqOTJys1WtACyPpqRvNpKJHFR26WkHSbj148RyGfToTEeAvzM)