Reading’s Conservative MP and senior cabinet minister Alok Sharma has been criticised for receiving political donations from a businessman tied with Russia.

In total, Mr Sharma, the Conservative MP for Reading West, has received a total of £25,000 across two donations.

He received the donations from companies owned by Soviet Union born British businessman  Alexander Temerko.

According to an article in the Daily Mail from July 2020, Mr Sharma received £15,000 from the company OGN eight years ago, and £10,000 from energy firm Aquind in 2020, when Mr Sharma was serving as  the business secretary.

Aquind was meant to be a subsea power cable running under the English Channel, but the project was refused by business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng (Conservative, Spelthorne) this year.

READ MORE: Plan to build 223 homes on Reading Golf course approved despite over 4000 objections 

The donations have led the Reading Labour party to criticise Mr Sharma, with some calling for donations to be paid back.

In a letter to Mr Sharma, Jason Brock, the Labour leader of Reading Borough Council (Southcote) wrote: “We are writing with regard to the tragedy that is unfolding as a result of Vladimir Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

“This is a war that has, rightly, been condemned internationally.

“It is a war without justification and is being perpetrated against a free democratic state.

“Moreover, it is clear that Russian forces are targeting residential areas of Ukrainian cities, already resulting in a number of civilian deaths.

“Targeting civilians is, as you will know, a war crime.

“We are therefore sure that people in Reading West, and across Reading, would be disturbed to learn that you have received £25,000 in donations from businesses associated with Alexander Temerko, a Russian businessman who has spoken in positive terms about one of Vladimir Putin’s closest allies, Nikolai Patrushev, the head of Russia’s Security Council.

“We stand by Ukraine through this appalling attack on human rights, democracy and freedom.

“Given that sanctions make returning donations to Mr Temerko’s companies

inappropriate, we are therefore asking that you make a donation equivalent to the amount that you received to one of the charities that is supporting Ukrainian refugees.”

READ MORE: Reading MP calls leaseholder charges 'deeply unfair' and 'discriminatory'

It has been pointed out that Mr Temerko is critic of President Putin, and called for Great Britain to arm Ukranian defence forces in The Guardian in 2015.

Furthermore, Mr Temerko himself was born in Ukraine.

Replying to the Reading Labour party, Mr Sharma said: “I share your condemnation of Putin’s illegal and barbaric invasion of Ukraine, a sovereign democratic nation.

“The UK and our international partners stand united in condemning Putin and his regime for its reprehensible actions and we hold the brave people of Ukraine in our hearts and minds, as they defend themselves from the despicable onslaught of Putin’s forces.

“Britain has played its part in helping Ukraine to prepare: training 22,000 soldiers, supplying 2,000 anti-tank missiles, providing £100m of support for economic reform and energy independence and £120m of humanitarian aid.

“Together with our allies we are making Russia pay the price and demonstrating the strengthening of opposition against Russian aggression.

“We have introduced the largest and most severe package of sanctions ever imposed on Russia, or indeed any major economy.

“We will continue to support the Ukrainian government in the face of this assault on their sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“You refer to donations my local party has received from UK registered companies.

“As you will be aware, individuals have to be on the UK electoral register in order to give to a UK political party, and companies have to be UK registered.

“These donations have been have been declared in line with Parliamentary rules.

“They were published with full transparency on the Register of Members’ Interests.

“In your letter you make reference to Alexander Temerko, who I would note is a Ukrainian born British citizen, and has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”

READ MORE: MP urges West 'not to blink' on ejecting Russian troops from Ukraine

Reacting to Mr Sharma’s response, Cllr Brock said: “I do acknowledge that Mr Temerko has provided some criticism of Putin.

“I continue to question whether full due diligence was undertaken in respect of Mr Temerko’s political views at the point that the donations were initially offered and accepted.

I do not doubt that the donations are legal within Electoral Commission requirements.”