US Refrains From Prohibiting Companies to Attend Russia's Economic Forum

The United States will not attempt to prevent its entrepreneurs from traveling to Russia for the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2015, The Financial Times reported, citing an unnamed US diplomat.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — In 2014, US authorities called on US executives to refrain from attending the economic forum in Russia.

"The message is: If you’re asking us, we still won’t encourage you to go, but if you don’t ask, nothing will happen."

Two executives from US companies with operations in Russia reportedly said government officials had told them there would be "no punishment" if the companies attended the forum.

According to The Financial Times, the chairmen of AT Kearney, Boston Consulting Group, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ernst & Young are among those who are expected at the event.

The chief executives of Shell, BP, Societe Generale, Total, and Carlsberg are also expected to be present at the St. Petersburg forum.

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum has been held annually since 1997. In 2015, the forum will be held on June 18-20. In 2014, the event was attended by more than 4,700 participants from 73 countries.