Russia Warns Foreign Companies Withdrawing: "No Free Exit"

Special Committee to Enforce Strict Regulations

Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Russian Kremlin, stated on the 31st (local time) that there is "no free exit" for companies leaving Russia and that they will be subject to strict regulations.

At a briefing that day, Peskov responded to questions about the conditions for Western companies withdrawing from Russia by saying, "Clearly, there can be no free exit, and the (government special) committee will strictly regulate it."

Addressing the West, he said, "Considering the 'quasi-war' the West is waging against Russia, Western companies will be subject to a special regime." This is pressure to create an unfavorable environment for companies from countries imposing sanctions on Russia following the Ukraine war to withdraw.

Some major foreign media reported that Western companies withdrawing from Russia must agree to receive the proceeds from business sales in rubles, and if they insist on receiving payment in dollars or euros, overseas remittances will be delayed or they will have to bear losses. Since proceeds received in rubles must be exchanged into the desired currency in Russia or the company's home country, this is analyzed as a measure to defend against the depreciation of the ruble.

Dmitry Peskov, Russian Kremlin spokesperson
[Photo by Yonhap News]

However, Peskov drew a line by stating that these measures are unrelated to the ruble exchange rate.

Regarding the question of when President Vladimir Putin will announce his candidacy ahead of the Russian presidential election in March next year, Peskov replied, "The election campaign has not yet been announced," adding, "Many potential candidates meet the constitutional requirements for presidential candidates."

He explained that President Putin held a meeting concerning the anti-Semitic violent protests that occurred at the Dagestan airport the previous day and discussed ways to strengthen responses to foreign interference in domestic affairs.

At this meeting, President Putin criticized Ukraine and the West for instigating these protests to cause social unrest in Russia.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.