A high-level Russian delegation will attend the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, the organizers announced Sunday after Moscow had threatened to boycott the event because of US sanctions.
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev warned last month that no Russian officials would come to the annual political and business summit in the Swiss mountains if sanctions-hit Russian business leaders were not able to attend.
In April, the United States imposed punitive measures on several Russian oligarchs, including Davos regulars Oleg Deripaska, Viktor Vekselberg and Andrey Kostin.
‘We are pleased to learn that Russia also will send a high level governmental delegation to Davos,’ senior World Economic Forum official Alois Zwinggi said in a statement.
The announcement was preceded by ‘discussions with all relevant parties,’ he said.
Hosting political and business leaders from major economies including Russia is essential for the World Economic Forum as a platform for global dialogue, Zwinggi added.
‘Should the delegation include individuals under sanction, all necessary measures have been undertaken to ensure that their presence would be fully compliant with current legal conditions,’ Zwinggi said without elaborating.
Washington alleges that Russian oligarchs profit from their close ties to the Russian government, which is involved in the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, and which is accused of trying to manipulate Western politics.
