Cherie Blair, Chair of Omnia Strategy, has condemned former President Mohamed Nasheed’s lawyer Amal Clooney’s call for sanctions against the Government, and stated that the calls were inappropriate and unjustified.

The group made the statement in a joint press release issued by the Government.

The statement noted that Maldives was still young democracy recently undergoing a period of transition. As such, the statement agreed that almost all of the institutions in the country needed a detailed period of review and reform where appropriate to enable the State to progress.

Therefore, the statement added that Maldives should not be penalized for bringing a person to face justice, and cited that international sanctions can only be used exceptional circumstances to force compliance with international law, where there is a threat to peace, or where they are imposed in response to a specific policy.

Mrs. Blair argued that sanctions cannot be used when dealing with a single individual and added that international sanctions can deeply impact the Maldivian economy.

In the statement Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon stated that it was deeply regrettable that when the judicial institutions of the Maldives demonstrate a clear commitment to upholding the rule of law, that the threat of sanctions was advanced. She added that nations were entitled to their constructive criticism.

Mrs. Blair’s Omnia strategy has been employed by the Government to assist in a process of review and reform of existing democratic and legal institutions, and where necessary assist in the development of new institutions to further Government capacity.