MOSCOW (AP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged a gathering of billionaires and business leaders to bring money back to the country from offshore accounts, warning that funds kept abroad could be frozen.
In an apparent reference to the possibility of further U.S. and European Union sanctions on Russia for its involvement in the Ukraine crisis, Putin warned Thursday of a possible “limit on the use of these capital amounts which are located in foreign jurisdictions.”
Citing “disturbing information from a number of countries,” Putin said he suspects that “attempts could be made to obstruct” efforts to return capital to Russia.
“Just bear that in mind,” he told the assembled audience.
The speech was followed by a private meeting with several top oligarchs, at which Putin emphasized funds should be brought to Russia promptly, billionaire Oleg Deripaska told local TV.