The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development said Tuesday that it had agreed to a request from the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Russian authorities to lift the immunity of four officials assigned to the EBRD by the Russian government.
The move will facilitate corruption investigations in Britain and Russia. Only one of the four officials was identified by officials: Moscow’s representative on the EBRD board, Yelena Kotova, whom the Economic Development Ministry said Tuesday that it had dismissed.
Independently, and prior to the requests, the EBRD opened an internal investigation and shared findings with Russian authorities. They will also be made available to British police, the EBRD said in a statement.
(MT)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
