Putin “Banned” Execs from UK Forum – Amtel-Vredestein CEO

According to Bloomberg news, a number of Russian business leaders have withdrawn from the annual Russian Economic Forum in London at the last minute, following what Alexey Gurin, CEO of Amtel-Vredestein NV called an “unofficial and maybe official ban” by President Vladimir Putin.

There’s an “unofficial, and maybe official ban for politicians to come to this forum in London,” said Mr. Gurin. “Russians tend to speak much more openly and frankly being outside of Russia. I don’t know why it happens, but it’s a matter of fact.”

According to unidentified officials who have been quoted in a number of Russian newspapers, Vladimir Putin apparently wants business leaders to avoid the forum and similar meetings abroad to support a rival forum in his hometown of St. Petersburg, which will be held in June. Nobody in the Kremlin press service was available to comment.

Relations between the UK and Russia have in recent times become strained as a result of media interviews given by London-based exiled billionaire Boris Berezovsky, in which he called for “force” to overthrow Putin’s government. Russia has asked for his extradition.