The United Kingdom remains one of the world’s key centres of political influence — but it is also a safe haven for significant volumes of Russian capital, including illicit funds. For decades, London has served as a refuge for fugitive Russian oligarchs, while the UK’s financial system has become a significant channel for “shadow flows” of money. At the same time, Britain is one of Ukraine’s staunchest allies and a strong advocate for a tough international response to Kremlin aggression. Parliamentary focus on Russia presents an opportunity to match political will with concrete action against the corruption trails leading from Moscow to London.
A new cross-party body — the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Russia and Democracy — has been launched in the UK Parliament. Its inaugural meeting took place in June, but official confirmation of its establishment came only this week, following an update to the APPG register.
The initiative came from the Russian anti-war community, the Russian Democratic Society UK, supported by several British MPs and peers. The group aims to develop a long-term strategy towards Vladimir Putin’s authoritarian regime and support democratic, anti-war forces within the Russian diaspora. Transparency International Russia has been invited to join as a permanent expert organisation.
How the APPG will work
APPGs are informal yet influential groups that bring together Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords to work on important issues, from sport to foreign policy. While they do not have formal legislative powers, APPGs often provide the evidence base for parliamentary debates and shape political decision-making.
The Russia and Democracy APPG plans to hold regular meetings, invite external experts, host discussions, and produce analytical papers and policy recommendations for UK lawmakers. It will also involve leading research institutes and organisations, including Chatham House, the Henry Jackson Society, and The New Eurasian Strategist (NEST).
By creating such a platform, the UK Parliament aims to bring together politicians, diplomats, analysts, and civil society actors who systematically study Russian politics and warn about its cross-border risks. This is not merely a gesture of solidarity, but a practical attempt to develop a coherent parliamentary strategy in the face of growing threats of interference and money laundering.
Transparency International Russia’s role in the Russia and Democracy APPG
Transparency International Russia is an independent, non-partisan organisation, committed to political neutrality. We will provide expert input on sanctions, overseas assets, corruption networks, and capital flight schemes. Our anti-corruption agenda is designed to help keep the British Parliament focused on the systemic abuses underpinning Russia’s current regime — and on how these abuses find shelter in foreign jurisdictions, particularly in the UK.
Our recent reports on vulnerabilities in Russia–UK trade and finance, and the siphoning of billions of euros through electronic payment systems, have already been cited in parliamentary debates. We expect our future investigations to underpin concrete action by lawmakers — including international measures against Russian officials and business figures involved in corruption and money laundering.
“It is important for British lawmakers to hear from the Russian anti-corruption community. Being part of the APPG is not just an opportunity to share our findings, but also to influence decisions that will shape the future of our country and Europe as a whole,” said Alyona Vandysheva, the Executive Director of Transparency International Russia.
Russian corruption is not only a domestic issue. It infiltrates international financial systems, entrenches impunity, and undermines democracy worldwide. London is one of the key global entry points for Russian illicit wealth, creating risks to financial stability and the rule of law: investors cannot be sure their money is free from reputational and political liabilities.
As long as the owners of Kremlin-linked assets feel safe abroad, genuine democratic change in Russia will remain out of reach. Transparency and oversight in the jurisdictions where these assets are hidden are essential conditions for change.
Update as of 11 December 2025:
This publication previously referred to the Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW) as being involved in the APPG on Russia and Democracy. OSW is not part of the group’s work. The reference has been removed, and the publication has been updated to ensure accuracy.
