The Kremlin has ruled out a “free exit” of Western companies from the Russian market

Western companies that have decided to leave the Russian market will do so under the conditions put forward by a government commission, presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

“Of course, there can’t be a free exit now, and the commission strictly regulates this,” he said. At the same time, Peskov noted that “Russia is still a country that remains open to foreign investment,” RBC reports.

“Maybe someone will say that learning this now is somewhat contradictory. No, not at all. Many niches that are vacated here after the departure of some companies are occupied by other companies. If companies from some countries leave, companies from other countries show increased interest,” he explained.

Russia creates comfortable conditions for such companies, but for leaving Western companies the situation is different, the Kremlin representative noted. “Taking into account the quasi-war that is being waged with the Russian Federation by the collective West, including the economic war, of course, a special regime applies to these very Western companies that come out of here under pressure from their governments,” the presidential press secretary concluded.

The Financial Times, citing sources, previously reported that Russian authorities have prohibited Western companies selling businesses in Russia from withdrawing proceeds in dollars and euros. The newspaper called it “de facto additional currency controls in an attempt to support the weakening ruble.”

The publication’s interlocutors argue that companies leaving Russia must agree on a business sale price in rubles, and those insisting on receiving foreign currency “will face delays and even losses of amounts that could be transferred abroad,” the article says.