Alexander Shokhin, head of Russia’s Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs
Photo: Dmitry Dukhanin
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Russia’s Companies May Pull Out of LSE
The crisis in relations of Moscow and London may trigger withdrawal of many companies of Russia from LSE and affect business of government’s companies, speculated Alexander Shokhin, head of Russia’s Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.
”If the events continue like this, the result could be that Britain’s trading floors traditionally so favored by Russia’s companies, including the government’s ones, will start losing positions and continental exchanges will have the chance to gain over Russia’s companies,” Shokhin told RIA Novosti.
The strained relations of Russia and Britain sank to the record low once London announced July 16 the deportation of four Russia’s diplomats and holdup of negotiations on visa facilitation procedures. By this move, Britain responded to Kremlin's refusal to extradite Andrey Lugovoy, the prime suspect in pollonium murder of Alexander Litvinenko.
In the diplomatic tit-for-tat, Russia rebuffed by expelling four diplomats of Britain, by halting visa release to Britain’s officials and by refusing to send bureaucrats there.
“More likely than not, London [Economic] Forum will be closed. Davos will emerge as the main floor,” Shokhin forecasted aftereffects of the conflict.
Touching upon the political aspect of Russia’s counterattack, Shokhin said the political ping-pond is inevitable should we be responding symmetrically. It may materially cool the relations of Russia and Britain if not roll them back to the time of Cold War.
“If no response from British authorities follows, it will be possible to stabilize the situation,” Shokhin concluded.
www.kommersant.com
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