The Charity Commission for England and Wales has published the report of its inquiry into the World Holocaust Forum Foundation, a charity of which Russian businessman Dr Viatcheslav Moshe Kantor was a trustee and member.
The Commission (the independent, non-ministerial government department that registers and regulates charities) has disqualified Dr Kantor from holding office in a charity for life, and the charity has now been dissolved.
The charity, which has now been dissolved, was established with purposes to advance the education of the public in relation to the Holocaust. It was registered with the Commission in May 2021.
On 6 April 2022, Dr Kantor was sanctioned by the UK government under its Russia Sanctions regime. In May this year, the Commission appointed an interim manager to transfer the charity’s funds to an unconnected registered charity with similar purposes.
“Where wrongdoing occurs in a charity, the Commission will ensure that those responsible are held accountable for their actions or lack of. In Dr Kantor’s case this meant removal from office and a lifelong disqualification from acting as a trustee for any other charity. Our inquiry concluded that, subsequent to Dr Kantor’s designation, the charity had no viable future and should be wound-up“
Joshua Farbridge, Head of Compliance Visits and Inspections at the Commission
