Cole-Hamilton urges SNP Government to deliver transparency on Russian land ownership

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today urged the SNP-Green Government to deliver full transparency over who owns land in Scotland during a questions session in the Scottish Parliament.  

Scotland has one of the most concentrated systems of land ownership in the world, with half of all privately owned land held by 433 people.

Speaking in Parliament, Mr Cole-Hamilton said:

“When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, there was rightly a focus on the Russian oligarchs who own land in Scotland. We know of four, at least two of whom have links to the Kremlin and were included on the ‘Putin List’ published by the US Treasury Department in 2018.

“However, there is a loophole in this register which means some landowners are exempt from it, which could mean there are still landowners hiding their identity and potential wealth and may have links to Putin’s kleptocracy.

“So can I ask the Cabinet Secretary whether she is satisfied with the system as it exists today and what plans the government has to further increase transparency around this issue?”