Greenpeace calls on government to freeze Russian oligarch’s Kiwi assets
Disarmament Minister Phil Twyford has accepted a petition with 15,000 signatures, calling on the government to freeze local assets held by a Russian oligarch.
The petition, launched by Greenpeace, wants the assets of Russian resort owner Alexander Abramov frozen, amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Twyford received the viaduct petition on April 11 outside the Maritime Museum.
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Greenpeace Aotearoa program director Niamh O’Flynn led a protest flotilla against the property of Russian oligarch Alexander Abramov in Helena Bay.
In the background was the veteran protest yacht SV Vega, which Greenpeace activists sailed to the Abramov resort at Helena Bay in Northland last month to protest the war.
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Abramov owns Targa Capital, a local development company. He completed 11 housing projects, mostly in Auckland. Two of the developments were KiwiBuild projects.
The government has released two separate lists of individuals subject to a new travel ban in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine – including President Vladimir Putin and oligarch Gennady Timchenko.
Niamh O’Flynn, director of the Greenpeace Aotearoa program, said Thing she hopes that the voices of 15,431 people will encourage the government to act on Abramov as well.
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“The oligarchs have huge financial resources and political power and by sanctioning the oligarchs with ties here, we are really putting a line in the sand and saying it’s time for the war to end,” Niamh O’ said. Flynn.
“As the biggest Russian investor in Aotearoa, until Abramov is sanctioned, the job is not entirely done,” O’Flynn said.
“The rest of the sanctions so far seem a bit symbolic.”
Talk to Thing after accepting the petition, Twyford said the government was working “overtime” to pressure Putin to call off the war.
But, he said, the government must exercise due diligence when targeting individuals under the new 2022 Russia sanctions law.
“The purpose of the law is not to punish random Russians or rich Russians. These are oligarchs who are of strategic importance to Vladimir Putin’s government. I’m sure there will be other oligarchs added to the sanctions list over time.
Twyford categorically denied that Abramov was not sanctioned because of his investments in tourism and housing.
“New Zealand should not be a haven for oligarchs who are important to Putin’s war effort. We will continue to do our own research, and rely on the advice of the many other countries that have sanctions in place against Russian oligarchs, to do our due diligence on those targeted by our sanctions.
Not far from Abramov’s Helena Bay Lodge is Mōkau Marae, home to Ngātaiwai hapu Te Uri o Hikihiki.
Its central building is called Rongo Maraeroa, named after the Maori god of peace.
Representative Carmen Hetaraka attended Monday’s petition delivery on behalf of her iwi and hapu, who support Greenpeace’s call for peace.
Hetaraka said Abramov’s contributions to the region and the community, and the due diligence that was done by the council and the government when he first prepared to invest in Helena Bay, should not not be taken lightly.
“As far as we can see, there is nothing wrong with this fulla,” he said. Thing.
“We don’t have a bad word to say about him. He has given back more to the Maori community and the Mōkau marae than anyone who has come to our community.
“We are for peace, and we support that those fullas who have been behind Putin should be reprimanded, of course, but boy, don’t train us to judge that fulla because we have nothing to do.”
