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Raiffeisen continues winding down Russian business

Raiffeisen Bank International keeps in contact "with relevant regulators and authorities", the bank’s press service said

VIENNA, December 15. /TASS/. Austria-based Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) is in talks with the government about closing up shop in Russia, the bank’s press service told TASS, commenting on the demand of Austrian authorities to remove RBI from the Ukrainian black list of Russian "sponsors" in exchange for approval of a new package of anti-Russian sanctions.

"As regards the business activity in Russia, RBI will continue operations that will lead to the sale or spinoff of Raiffeisen Russia within the framework of local and international laws," a bank’s spokesperson said.

RBI keeps in contact "with relevant regulators and authorities," the bank added.

Reuters reported earlier, citing sources in the EU, that Austria is blocking the twelfth package of anti-Russian sanctions, demanding that Ukraine exclude Raiffeisen Bank International from the Ukrainian list of companies "supporting Russia." It became known later that Austria unblocked the adoption of the next package but it has not been approved yet.

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