Cyprus and the UK have a “shared goal” to tackle sanctions evasion, as British authorities are helping the Republic create a new sanctions implementation unit, it was reported on Thursday.

UK’s Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Leo Docherty was responding to a question from Labour MP Afzal Khan earlier this week, when he made his statements.

Khan asked Docherty if he will assess the potential implications for his policies of levels of Russian investment in the economy of the Republic of Cyprus.

“The UK and Cyprus have a shared goal to reduce [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s capacity to fund his illegal war in Ukraine,” Docherty said.

“The UK Government is working with Cypriot authorities to provide technical support for the creation of a new sanctions implementation unit, drawing on international best practice and lessons from the UK’s own Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation.”

Docherty specified that following the 2022 invasion, Cyprus joined the rest of the EU in adopting “an unprecedented package of sanctions against Russia.

“We are committed to working with international partners to ensure sanctions are effective and to tackle sanctions evasion.”