The Kantor Foundation and Kantor Charitable Foundation were registered in 2017 and are grant-making trusts, applying funds to charitable causes around the world and in the UK respectively. The charities' current trustee is a corporate entity, the Kantor Trustees, of which Dr Viatcheslav Kantor is a director.
The Commission opened statutory inquiries into the two charities in April 2022, following the sanctioning of Dr Kantor under the UK's Russia Sanctions regime. The Commission's position is that individuals subject to UK financial sanctions cannot discharge their duties as a trustee.
As part of its inquiries, the Commission is considering whether the charities are viable and can continue to operate, following sanctions imposed on Dr Kantor. The inquiries are also examining the conduct of the trustees and whether they have discharged their legal duties and responsibilities in their management and administration of the charities.
On 31 May 2022, Tom Murdoch and Tony Pidgeon of Stone King LLP were appointed by the Commission as Interim Manager of both charities. They will act to fulfil a number of tasks, including managing the assets and assessing the future viability of the charities. The regulator has frozen the charities' bank accounts, but under the General Licence issued by the Office for Financial Sanctions Implementation, the Interim Manager is allowed to act as receiver and manager of the charities' assets.
The Commission's inquiry into the charities remain ongoing. It is the Commission's intention to publish an inquiry report upon its conclusion.
