JRL NEWSWATCH: “The UK executives helping Putin burnish Russia’s image; Meeting with top British businessmen could not come at a better time for the Kremlin” – Financial Times/ Henry Foy

“Eleven years ago [BP’s] Bob Dudley … fled [Russia] citing ‘sustained harassment of the company and myself’ and threats to his life allegedly directed by politically connected oligarchs and Russia’s security services. Last month … Dudley, now head of the British oil group, was back, telling … Putin … at the Kremlin that he and the British company ‘deeply appreciate the support you have given us over the years.’ … The well-publicised meeting, featuring six other executives billed as ‘representatives of the UK business community,’ followed weeks of domestic and international criticism of … Putin … over the imprisonment of [U.S. private equity executive] Michael Calvey …. If the country’s reputation among foreign investors continues to fall, there is a risk that Mr Dudley and the rest of the oil men may be the only ones left.”

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