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Russian government has taken extremely hostile angle towards foreign owned businesses attempting to leave Russia. That is - if they stay and continue to operate

Russian government has taken extremely hostile angle towards foreign owned businesses attempting to leave Russia. That is - if they stay and continue to operate - the government leaves them for the most part alone, at least for now. Any businesses attempting a sale or reduction in operations are targeted for government action ranging from huge portion of sale proceeds forfeited, forced takeovers etc. Businesses will remember this costly lesson for a long time as far as foreign investments in Russia are concerned.

af78 3y ago
I disagree about this part: “if they stay and continue to operate - the government leaves them for the most part alone” Foreign businesses are known to have been coerced to make ‘voluntary donations’ to the military. Here’s an example: https://sanctions.nazk.gov.ua/en/boycott/13/ https://sanctions.nazk.gov.ua/en/boycott/13/ See also: Russia’s subsidiary of Danone seized, its director replaced by a nephew of Chechen warlord Kadyrov. https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/chechen-leaders-nephew-new-head-russias-danone-subsidiary-media-2023-07-19/ https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/chechen-lea... Chechen leader's 'dear' nephew made head of seized Danone subsidiary in Russia
- VincentEvans 3y ago
  From the Danone link you posted: “Russia says it has been forced to act to ensure that operations continue at important businesses whose Western owners have declared they are exiting. But it may be difficult for investors to regain control of the assets. …and further down: "We will undoubtedly see more of these actions. But there should, at least for now, be no threat to western companies which either have said they intend to stay in Russia or have specifically not said they are looking to exit." However, this is just arguing small points, because when I stated that business that continue to operate “generally left alone, for now” is hand-wavy enough to allow for a spectrum of bullshit and uncertainty that makes it rather difficult to operate, and an environment where laws are pretend. Personally, I feel that any business that continues to operate in Russia tacitly contributes to war and props up the regime, one way or another. Its immoral.
  - af78 3y ago
    Thanks for expanding.

af78 3y ago

I disagree about this part: “if they stay and continue to operate - the government leaves them for the most part alone” Foreign businesses are known to have been coerced to make ‘voluntary donations’ to the military. Here’s an example: https://sanctions.nazk.gov.ua/en/boycott/13/ https://sanctions.nazk.gov.ua/en/boycott/13/ See also: Russia’s subsidiary of Danone seized, its director replaced by a nephew of Chechen warlord Kadyrov. https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/chechen-leaders-nephew-new-head-russias-danone-subsidiary-media-2023-07-19/ https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/chechen-lea... Chechen leader's 'dear' nephew made head of seized Danone subsidiary in Russia

VincentEvans 3y ago
From the Danone link you posted: “Russia says it has been forced to act to ensure that operations continue at important businesses whose Western owners have declared they are exiting. But it may be difficult for investors to regain control of the assets. …and further down: "We will undoubtedly see more of these actions. But there should, at least for now, be no threat to western companies which either have said they intend to stay in Russia or have specifically not said they are looking to exit." However, this is just arguing small points, because when I stated that business that continue to operate “generally left alone, for now” is hand-wavy enough to allow for a spectrum of bullshit and uncertainty that makes it rather difficult to operate, and an environment where laws are pretend. Personally, I feel that any business that continues to operate in Russia tacitly contributes to war and props up the regime, one way or another. Its immoral.
- af78 3y ago
  Thanks for expanding.