Charity Commission

The complainant has requested copies of correspondence between the Charity Commission and the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office concerning an inquiry about the Potanin Foundation and the decision-making process concerning the designation of the charity’s founder under the Russia sanctions regime. The Charity Commission withheld the requested information under section 32(2) (court records) as it was held only by virtue of it being part of an inquiry. The Charity Commission also advised it was also applying section 40 of FOIA (personal information) to the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Charity Commission has applied section 32(2) correctly to withhold the requested information. The Commissioner does not require further steps.