The government of United Kingdom is set to proscribe Wagner, the Russian mercenary group, as a terrorist organization given that the group’s involvement in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was regarded as criminal by Britain. The BBC, the UK’s public service broadcaster, reported a draft order would be put forward in parliament to allow Wagner’s assets to be categorised as “terrorist” property and seized. The designation will make it illegal for anyone in the UK to be a member of the group or support it. The home Secretary Suella Braverman was to make the Wagner Group a “proscribed” organisation under anti-terror laws, putting it on a par with Islamic State and al-Qaeda.
Under the Terrorism Act 2000 the home secretary has the power to proscribe an organisation if they believe it is involved in terrorism.
“Wagner is a violent and destructive organisation which has acted as a military tool of Vladimir Putin’s Russia overseas,” the Daily Mail quoted Braverman as saying.
She said its work in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Africa was a "threat to global security".
“That is why we are proscribing this terrorist organisation and continuing to aid Ukraine wherever we can in its fight against Russia.”
"Wagner's continuing destabilising activities only continue to serve the Kremlin's political goals," Braverman added.
"They are terrorists, plain and simple - and this proscription order makes that clear in UK law."
“Wagner has been involved in looting, torture and barbarous murders,” Braverman added in the Daily Mail.
The UK has already imposed sanctions on Wagner, and some of its senior commanders as well as those linked to it in Africa, over alleged human rights abuses.
