"I asked it to update a will it had drawn up for me in 2020, with my partner and our daughter as the beneficiaries. I received no follow-up for two months. When I chased the matter, I was told the request had been cancelled because I was born in Russia. I moved to the UK as a child and revoked my citizenship in 1999. I now have dual British and German nationality. The adviser checked that I have no ties to Russia, or any Russian assets, and rebooked the appointment."
"The penalties for doing financial or legal business with those sanctioned under Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations include imprisonment of up to seven years, so many banks and legal firms are playing it safe. The UK government guidance is clear: if a person is not designated under a sanctions regime, or connected to someone who is, they will not be prohibited from financial and legal services."
A client sought an update to a will drafted in 2020 naming their partner and daughter as beneficiaries. The will-writing service repeatedly cancelled or terminated appointments citing the client’s Russian birthplace despite the client revoking Russian citizenship in 1999 and holding British and German nationality. The service claimed specialist legal advice instructing refusal to anyone born in Russia regardless of current citizenship or ties. UK sanctions target designated persons and those connected to them; the client is not designated. Government guidance indicates non-designated, non-connected persons are not prohibited from accessing financial or legal services. Blanket refusals based solely on place of birth have no clear legal basis.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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