Moscow will not send a delegation to the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in the Swiss resort of Davos if prominent Russian businessmen are barred from the elite gathering, as press reports have suggested
“If decisions taken concerning Russian businessmen are not changed, we will have to decide to refuse the participation of Russian companies and officials to the Davos forum,” Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev said in Sicily.
Medvedev, who was quoted by Russian news agencies, was attending a conference on Libya on the Italian island.
Last week the Financial Times reported that three businessmen – aluminium magnate Oleg Deripaska, businessman Viktor Vekselberg and VTB Bank chief Andrei Kostin – had been informed that they would not be welcome at the elite gathering at the resort in eastern Switzerland, which next year takes place from January 22-25. All three have attended the Davos WEF meeting in the past.
The trio were hit by US sanctions in April that banned them from doing business with US citizens and froze their US assets. The newspaper suggested that the decision was a sign of the pressure international organisations were under and their wariness of dealing with those blacklisted by Washington.
Medvedev said he had spoken with Swiss President Alain Berset about this issue.
“The decision is very strange, at the least… I have just spoken to the Swiss president about this subject and told him how surprising it is for us, especially as WEF is a non-governmental organisation,” he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has not attended the Davos meeting since 2009. Recently, Russia’s delegation has been headed by one of the country’s deputy prime ministers.
In 2015, WEF changed their status from non-profit foundation to international organisation.
New gel developed in Zurich renders alcohol harmless
This content was published on
A newly developed gel composed of whey proteins breaks down alcohol in the body and could reduce its harmful and intoxicating effects in humans.
Pro-Palestine protests extend to Basel and Fribourg universities
This content was published on
Demonstrators called for an academic boycott of all Israeli institutions and disassociation with Chaim Weizmann, the first Israeli president.
This content was published on
In many cases, China's use of AI undermines the national security of the US and its allies, according to a US government representative.
Swiss Hells Angels trial alleges rape and money laundering
This content was published on
An allegedly high-ranking member of the Hells Angels is accused of money laundering totalling millions and rape, among other serious crimes.
SWISS is airline ‘group flagship’ says Lufthansa boss
This content was published on
Despite challenges, Lufthansa and its most important subsidiary, Swiss International Airlines, promise increased satisfaction and continued growth.
Swiss rediscover communist zeal after 84-year hiatus
This content was published on
Over 300 participants founded the Revolutionary Communist Party (RKP) at its congress in Burgdorf in canton Bern at the weekend.
This content was published on
Nemo brought the Eurovision Song Contest to Switzerland with a victory on Saturday evening in Malmö, Sweden. It is Switzerland's third victory in the history of the music contest.
Global economic competitiveness stumbles in face of technology transformation
This content was published on
A major update to the WEF's annual Global Competitiveness Index reveals the global economy is ill-prepared for rapid technological change.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.