UK poised to list Wagner as ‘terrorists’, as France calls on EU to act

The French parliament has passed a resolution calling on the European Union to formally label Russia’s mercenary Wagner force a “terror group,” while the Times newspaper has reported that the United Kingdom would also formally list Wagner as a terrorist organization to increase pressure on Russia.
The French parliament has adopted a resolution, which is non-binding and largely symbolic, urging the bloc to formally list Russia’s mercenary Wagner force a “terror group” as reports emerged that after two months of building a legal case, Britain would also formally list Wagner as a terrorist organization to increase pressure on Russia. In the resolution, the French parliament said that Wagner mercenaries follow the geopolitical policies of Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Wherever they work, Wagner members spread instability and violence,” MP Benjamin Haddad told the parliament, adding that “They kill and torture. They massacre and pillage. They intimidate and manipulate with almost total impunity.”
French authorities have also accused Wagner of running anti-French propaganda operations in West Africa, particularly Mali. Citing a government source, the Times said the blacklisting was “imminent” and likely to be enacted shortly. Wagner and its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, have already been repeatedly sanctioned by the UK and the EU. Being listed as a terrorist organization means EU members could freeze assets of the Wagner group and its members, with European companies and citizens barred from dealing with the group. Prigozhin had his assets in the EU frozen in 2020 and was placed on a visa blacklist over the deployment of Wagner fighters to war-torn Libya, a decision he unsuccessfully appealed against.