TI-Russia became an expert at the British Parliament

Britain remains one of the world's centers of political influence - but also a haven for much of Russian capital, including dirty money. London has served as a refuge for fugitive Russian oligarchs for decades, and the country's financial system has become a key destination for shadow flows. Moreover, it is Great Britain that is one of Ukraine’s main allies and supporters of a tough international policy in response to Kremlin aggression. Parliamentary interest in Russia is a chance to combine political will with a real fight against corruption trails stretching from Moscow to London.

A new cross-party group has started working in the British Parliament - the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Russia and Democracy . Its founding meeting took place back in June, but official confirmation of the group's creation appeared only after the APPGregistry was updated this week.

The creation of the APPG was initiated by the Russian anti-war community Russian Democratic Society UK with the support of a number of British parliamentarians. The goal of the group is to develop a long-term policy towards the authoritarian Putin regime and support Russian anti-war democratic forces. Transparency International - Russia was invited to join the group as a permanent expert organization.

How APPG will work

APPGs are informal but influential groups of MPs in the House of Commons and House of Lords, working on important topics from sport to foreign policy. Despite the lack of formal legislative powers, they often form the expert basis for discussions in parliament and influence political decisions.

APPG on Russia and Democracy plans regular meetings, participation of external experts, discussions, and preparation of analytical materials and recommendations for British legislators. Reputable think tanks and organizations also participate in the group's work, including Chatham House, Henry Jackson Society and The New Eurasian Strategist (NEST) .

By forming such a platform, the British Parliament seeks to unite the efforts of politicians, diplomats, analysts and representatives of civil society - those who systematically study Russian politics and warn about its cross-border risks. This is not just a gesture of support, but an instrumental attempt to build a sustainable parliamentary strategy in the face of the growing threat of interference and money laundering.

The role of TI-Russia in the work of the group

"Transparency International - Russia" is an independent and non-partisan organization operating in accordance with the principles of non-partisanship and political neutrality. We will provide expert support on issues of sanctions, foreign assets, corruption ties and capital withdrawal schemes. The anti-corruption agenda we are promoting is designed to keep the British Parliament focused on the systemic abuses that lie at the heart of modern Russian rule - and that find refuge in foreign jurisdictions, especially the UK.

Our recent reports on vulnerabilities in the Russian-British foreign economic infrastructure andthe withdrawal of billions of euros through electronic payment systems have already been cited in parliamentary debates and discussions . We expect that our future investigations will become the basis for practical steps by parliamentarians - including international measures against Russian officials and businessmen involved in corruption schemes and capital laundering.

“It is important that British parliamentarians take into account the opinion of the Russian anti-corruption community. Participation in the APPG is not just an opportunity to share the results of our research, but also to influence the development of decisions that affect the future of our country and Europe as a whole ,” noted Alena Vandysheva, director of TI-Russia.

Russian corruption is not just a domestic problem. It permeates international financial systems, fostering impunity and undermining democracy around the world. London is one of the cities where Russian corrupt money is leaking into the global economy, creating risks for financial stability and the rule of law: investors cannot be sure that their investments are free of reputational and political risks.

While owners of assets associated with the Kremlin regime feel safe abroad, it is premature to talk about real democratic changes in Russia. Transparency and control over where that capital is hidden is a prerequisite for change.

Update December 11, 2025:

A previous version of the material incorrectly referred to the Center for Oriental Studies (OSW) as an organization participating in the work of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Russia and Democracy. OSW does not participate in the activities of the group. The reference has been removed and the text has been updated to ensure the accuracy of the information published.