Wagner is set to be proscribed as a terrorist group by UK

London, The Gulf Observer: Wagner, the Russian mercenary group, is set to be proscribed as a terrorist group by the UK government – meaning it will be illegal to be a member or support the organisation according to the British media sources.

A draft order to be laid in Parliament will allow its assets to be categorised as terrorist property and seized.

The home secretary said Wagner was “violent and destructive… a military tool of Vladimir Putin’s Russia”.

She said its work in Ukraine and Africa was a “threat to global security”.

Suella Braverman added: “Wagner’s continuing destabilising activities only continue to serve the Kremlin’s political goals.”

“They are terrorists, plain and simple – and this proscription order makes that clear in UK law.”

Wagner had played a key role in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as operating in Syria and countries in Africa including Libya and Mali.

Its fighters have been accused of a number crimes including killing and torturing Ukrainian citizens.

The group’s name will now be added alongside that of other proscribed organisations in the UK such as Hamas and Boko Haram.

The Terrorism Act 2000 gives the home secretary the power to proscribe an organisation if they believe it is concerned in terrorism.

Before the act, it was only possible to proscribe organisations connected to terrorism in Northern Ireland.

The proscription order will make it a criminal offence to support the group – including by arranging a meetings aimed at furthering the organisation’s activities, expressing support for its aims or displaying its flag or logo.