Friedman and Aven called investing in Western countries a mistake

Investments in Western countries were a mistake, said Alfa Group founder Mikhail Fridman and group co-founder Peter Aven, writes Bloomberg.

“Today the fact that we invested in England looks like a colossal mistake,” he said. The businessman added that he was “squeezed out” of the UK. Aven, according to the agency, during an interrogation by British law enforcement in July 2022, also explained that he invested in the West “by mistake.”

Aven, according to the agency, during an interrogation by British law enforcement in July 2022, also explained that he invested in the West “by mistake.” He noted that Western businessmen and politicians are also responsible for what is happening “no less than the so-called Russian oligarchs.”

On September 19, London tightened sanctions against Friedman by introducing transport restrictions. They concern ships and aircraft associated with the businessman. Prior to this, the British authorities stopped the investigation against the businessman due to suspicions of circumventing sanctions. The country’s National Crime Agency (NCA) said it would “take no further action against Friedman based on the warrant issued in December 2022.”

At the end of 2022, his Athlone House mansion in north London was searched. Friedman was detained, after which he was released on bail and filed a lawsuit against the NCA. As the media wrote, a Russian businessman gave a bank loan to his assistant to circumvent restrictions, which was the reason for the start of the NCA investigation.

On October 9, Friedman confirmed his move to Israel, as well as a visit to Moscow. Earlier, press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov clarifiedthat Russian entrepreneurs freely leave and return to Russia is a normal process, “but they have one homeland.”