Peskov: Western firms to leave Russia only on government’s terms

MOSCOW, Oct 31 (PRIME) -- The Western companies will only leave Russia on conditions set by the government’s commission for foreign investment control, no free withdrawal is possible, President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday.

The Financial Times reported that the Western companies that want to leave Russia have to coordinate the sale price of their business in rubles with the government, and if they want to receive foreign currency as payment, they could face delays of payments and losses in the sums of money that could be transferred abroad.

“If we speak about the conceptual approach, it is obvious that the leaving companies … will leave on the conditions that the commission defines. Of course, no free withdrawal is possible right now. The commission regulates it and details the conditions. The commission has all the information,” Peskov said.

Besides the companies that left, there are many foreign companies that stay and continue doing profitable business here. At the same time, the withdrawal fee is not connected to the volatile ruble rate, he said.

Russia is still open for foreign investment, and is ready to create comfortable conditions for foreign businesses, but has to enact a special regime for the firm that want to leave the country.

“Taking into account the quasi-war that the collective West is waging against the Russian Federation right now, including the economic war against the Western companies that are leaving the country because of the pressure from their governments, a special regime is in force for them,” Peskov said.

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