Britain’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office announced on Friday that it was committed to holding to account officials responsible for war crimes in Syria.
As Brexit came into effect, the office issued a statement explaining that sanctions it used to impose through the European Union against president Bashar Assad's regime and its enablers will now be implemented autonomously, through UK regulations.
As a result, the Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 came fully into force on December 31, 2020, it said.
They are intended to ensure that certain sanctions measures relating to Syria continue to operate effectively.
This sanctions regime “is aimed at encouraging the government of Syria to refrain from actions, policies or activities which repress the civilian population in Syria and participate in negotiations in good faith to reach a negotiated political settlement to bring about a peaceful solution to the conflict in Syria.”
