Image: HEINZ-PETER BADER (X00316)
Two people familiar with the situation told the Reuters news agency on Thursday.
The Ukrainians want to use the list to expose companies that continue to do business in Russia after the Russian invasion and promote the war, for example by paying taxes in the country. Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) is the largest Western bank still represented in Russia – and the only Austrian one on the list.
Difficult retreat
“We think it’s unfair that we are on the list,” said a spokesman for the bank. The RBI is having difficulty with the announced withdrawal from Russia. CEO Johann Strobl recently stated that a spin-off at the turn of the year would probably not work. The bank must first exhaust the possibilities for a sale – that might be the easier way.
Also read:
- RBI’s commitment to Russia: Greens criticize ÖVP
- Raiffeisenbank Russia restricts international euro transfers
A spokesman for the Federal Chancellery said legal documents on the EU sanctions were presented on Tuesday. He did not want to comment on further information.
According to an insider, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg openly criticized the list compiled by the Ukrainian anti-corruption authority as “arbitrary” at a ministerial meeting in Kiev. The government has also expressed its concerns in discussions with EU representatives and diplomats in recent weeks. RBI representatives met with representatives of the Ukrainian authorities. Most recently, the Hungarian OTP Bank, among others, was removed from the list.
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