Britain Begins ‘Large-scale’ Evacuation of Its Nationals From Sudan

Smoke is seen rise from buildings during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum North, Sudan. April 22, 2023. REUTERS/ Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
Smoke is seen rise from buildings during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum North, Sudan. April 22, 2023. REUTERS/ Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
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Britain Begins ‘Large-scale’ Evacuation of Its Nationals From Sudan

Smoke is seen rise from buildings during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum North, Sudan. April 22, 2023. REUTERS/ Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
Smoke is seen rise from buildings during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum North, Sudan. April 22, 2023. REUTERS/ Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah

The British government said it had launched a large-scale evacuation of its citizens from Sudan on Tuesday, after the North African country's warring factions agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire.

Britain said military flights would depart from an airfield outside Khartoum, and would be open to those with British passports. Priority will be given to family groups with children, the elderly and individuals with medical conditions.

"The government has begun a large-scale evacuation of British passport holders from Sudan on RAF flights," Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Twitter. "I pay tribute to the British Armed Forces, diplomats and Border Force staff."

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said the government had started contacting nationals directly and providing routes for departure out of the country, Reuters reported.

On Monday, the government estimated around 4,000 British nationals were in Sudan and armed forces minister James Heappey said there was a military team in the east of the country doing reconnaissance on possible options for helping Britons leave.

The Foreign Office said on Tuesday British nationals should not make their way to the airfield unless they were called, and warned the situation remained volatile, meaning the ability to conduct evacuations could change at short notice.

The British armed forces evacuated diplomatic staff and their family members from Sudan on Saturday and the government had come under criticism from British citizens still stuck there that they were not doing enough to help others get out.

Britain said it was working with its international partners to arrange the departure and would also continue to look at other potential options for helping British nationals leave Sudan.



Italy Has Frozen Russian Oligarchs' Assets Worth over $2.6 Billion

Representation photo: The seized yatch 'Tango', which belongs to Renova Group head Viktor Vekselberg, moors in the port of Palma de Mallorca, Spain, 04 April 2022. EPA/CATI CLADERA
Representation photo: The seized yatch 'Tango', which belongs to Renova Group head Viktor Vekselberg, moors in the port of Palma de Mallorca, Spain, 04 April 2022. EPA/CATI CLADERA
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Italy Has Frozen Russian Oligarchs' Assets Worth over $2.6 Billion

Representation photo: The seized yatch 'Tango', which belongs to Renova Group head Viktor Vekselberg, moors in the port of Palma de Mallorca, Spain, 04 April 2022. EPA/CATI CLADERA
Representation photo: The seized yatch 'Tango', which belongs to Renova Group head Viktor Vekselberg, moors in the port of Palma de Mallorca, Spain, 04 April 2022. EPA/CATI CLADERA

Italy has frozen Russian oligarchs' assets valued at around 2.3 billion euros ($2.64 billion) since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, data provided by Italian authorities show, with the most recent seizures occurring at the beginning of the month.

Italy seized assets - including bank accounts, luxury villas, yachts and cars - as part of the European Union's sanctions against the Kremlin and its backers.

The Bank of Italy had said that at the end of June 2023 their value amounted to 2.5 billion dollars, said Reuters.

This month it did not update the total amount, but said that the funds frozen due to sanctions against Russia totaled almost 280 million euros up to December 2024 — a 44 million euro increase from the previous year.

Separately, the tax police seized in early June an Iranian company based in Milan, Irital Shipping Lines, and two of its properties worth a total of more than 1 million euros, due to "Iran's military support for Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine".

The company has not yet responded to a request for comment emailed by Reuters.

MAINTENANCE COSTS

Italy's State Property Agency holds all non-liquid assets frozen due to EU sanctions and the Italian government bears the costs of managing these assets during the freezing period.

According to the latest official data available, the costs incurred by the State for their maintenance amounted to 31.7 million euros up to February 2024.

When asked about the level of maintenance cost incurred by Italian taxpayers so far, the agency said it could not provide the information because it "is covered by official secrecy." Reuters calculation suggests that costs may have increased by around 15 million euros to more than 45 million euros to date.

The fate of these assets rests with the European Union.

If the EU decides to make the freezes permanent, the state must initiate proceedings to convert them into confiscations.

If Brussels decides to unfreeze them, the assets can be returned to their owners, provided that they pay Italy the maintenance costs incurred.