Davos decision to bar prominent Russian businessmen harms forum itself - Peskov
MOSCOW. Nov 7 (Interfax) - The decision to effectively bar prominent Russian businessmen Oleg Deripaska, Viktor Vekselberg and Andrei Kostin from attending the World Economic Forum in Davos will have a negative effect on the forum itself, presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said.
"Deripaska, Kostin and Vekselberg did not become who they are thanks to the forum. Rather, Davos became what it is thanks to such businessmen," Peskov said.
"In rejecting these entrepreneurs, the forum is chipping away at its own foundations," he said.
"Moscow conducts many forums with an extensive international presence. A portion of these forums are organized by the entrepreneurs that were mentioned. All interested parties can come to Russia. We will be happy to see everyone," he said.
Asked why President Vladimir Putin is not visiting the forum in Davos, Peskov said: "Putin was in Davos. Further on his schedule doesn't match up. Putin has been there, [Prime Minister Dmitry] Medvedev. The Russian presence is quite broad. Following these kinds of decisions, it probably won't be so broad."