The Wagner Group and beyond: proxy Private Military Companies

Foreign Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 30 Mar 2022 Closed: 26 Apr 2024 Parliament page
This inquiry will explore the challenge posed by Private Military Companies (PMCs) that some states use as proxies in conflict and to destabilise fragile countries. It will also examine how the UK Government is responding. The inquiry will focus particularly on the Wagner Group. Read the call for evidence for … Read more
19 Recommendations
20 Conclusions
1 Report
3 Oral sessions
1 Letter
3 Events
Activity timeline 9 events
30 Oct
2023
Report published
26 Jul
2023
Report published
15 Mar
2023
Correspondence
6 Feb
2023
Oral evidence
6 Feb
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
1 Nov
2022
Oral evidence
1 Nov
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
19 Apr
2022
Oral evidence
19 Apr
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
6 Feb 2023
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Foreign Affairs Committee
Ben Fender OBE · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Hazel Cameron · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Leo Docherty · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
1 Nov 2022
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Foreign Affairs Committee
Jason McCue · McCue Jury & Partners Mikhail Khodorkovsky Professor Jason Blazakis · Middlebury Institute of International Studies
19 Apr 2022
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Foreign Affairs Committee
Christo Grozev · Bellingcat Dr Sean McFate · Atlantic Council Dr Sorcha MacLeod · University of Copenhagen
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Seventh Report - Guns for gold: the Wagner Network exposed HC 167 26 Jul 2023 39 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
2 results
Clear
18 Recommendation Rejected
Seventh Report - Guns for gold: th…
Establish a regular mechanism for coordinating Wagner-linked sanctions with US and EU partners.
We recommend that the Government establishes a specific and regular mechanism for coordinating with the United States and the European Union over Wagner- linked sanctions; it should report back to us on what these mechanisms are, and how frequently and … Read more
Government Response
The government explicitly rejects the recommendation, stating that strong coordination mechanisms are already in place with the EU and US, including frequent working-level engagement, a quarterly bilateral format with the EU, and a newly established UK-U.S. Strategic Sanctions Dialogue.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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27 Recommendation Rejected
Seventh Report - Guns for gold: th…
Revive commitments to 50% ODA for fragile states and 0.7% GNI for ODA.
The Government should revive its previous commitment to channel 50% of Official Development Assistance to fragile and conflict-affected countries and regions. The Government should also revive its 2019 manifesto commitment to spending 0.7% of the UK’s Gross National Income on … Read more
Government Response
The government has no plans to reintroduce the commitment to channel 50% of ODA to fragile and conflict-affected states. It remains committed to spending 0.7% of GNI on ODA once specific fiscal tests are met, which are currently not satisfied.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 39 of 19 classified
Accepted 23
Accepted in Part 7
Acknowledged 4
Not Addressed 3
Rejected 2
Total 19 recs + 20 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
15 Mar 2023 Correspondence with the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Europe) following up on the FAC evidence session on 6 February 2023, dated 28/02/2023 and 09/02/2023
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