West Oxfordshire Liberal Democrats say they "want straight answers" about donations to Witney MP Robert Courts and West Oxfordshire Conservatives from the wife of a former Russian oligarch.
The Lib Dems have launched a petition to "try to get some straight answers out of both Robert Courts and Witney Conservative Association as to why they think it’s OK to take money from Ms Lubov Chernukhin".
The petition states: "Mr Courts must explain where the Russian-linked money they have received comes from, or to give it to groups who support the people of Ukraine."
Mr Courts and West Oxfordshire Conservatives have received just under £18,000 from Mrs Chernukhin, wife of Vladimir Chernukhin who served as Russian president Vladimir Putin’s deputy finance minister before moving to the UK in 2004.
The Lib Dem petition reads: "The Electoral Commission requires that you ask yourself 'am I sure I know who this donation is from?' and states that if 'for any reason you can’t be sure of the true identity of the source, you must return it'.
"Given these facts and the Electoral Commission’s requirements, please will you explain what steps you have taken to be sure that the funds you have accepted from Ms Chernukhin do indeed originate from her.
"The fact that Ms Chernukhin now also holds British citizenship is clearly insufficient to answer the Electoral Commission’s questions."
Mrs Chernukhin has given more than £2 million to the Conservative Party since 2016.
Figures released by the Electoral Commission on Wednesday show Mrs Chernukhin donated another £80,250 to the party in the final months of 2021.
The Lib Dems now say they would prefer Mr Courts to give the money to a Ukrainian charity rather than returning it.
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Mrs Chernukhin, who with her husband owns a mansion in Oxfordshire among other properties, has criticised Putin's “despotic regime” and condemned the invasion of Ukraine.
Her lawyers say she is a British citizen and is entitled to do as she wishes with her money.
The Tories have previously defended taking money from Mrs Chernukhin and there is no suggestion that Mr and Mrs Chernukhin’s wealth is illegitimate.
Mr Courts said: “I am appalled that local Liberal Democrats are playing disingenuous party politics at a time of genuine global crisis.
“While the Government is standing with the Ukrainian people and introducing the strongest ever package of sanctions against Putin and the oligarchs who support his regime, the Lib Dems are engaging in baseless mudslinging in an attempt to score petty political points.
"It is wrong to tar all Russians, many of whom are opposed to Putin and his unlawful invasion of Ukraine, with the same brush. What is clear is that the UK, together with our allies, are targeting the oligarchs close to Putin without fear or favour.
“To run a petition – which is a blatant data collection exercise on behalf of the Liberal Democrat Party – off the back of the suffering of the Ukrainian people is, frankly, the very lowest form of politics.
“As the authors of the petition know full well, all donations to the local Conservative Association are received in accordance with UK law and registered with the Electoral Commission.
"The individual which they refer to is a British citizen and is perfectly entitled to make political donations.”
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