A company operating e-scooters for hire in Liverpool says it is 're-evaluating' its partners in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Sweden-based Voi Technology is the company behind the popular coral-coloured e-scooters that have been seen on the city's streets in the past couple of years. Reports in a Swedish newspaper claimed one of Voi's major shareholders has links with an oligarch who has been sanctioned by the European Union following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The newspaper, Di, claimed Russian businessman Alexei Eliseev, who owns shares in Voi, has alleged business connections with Alexei Mordashov, who was sanctioned by the EU. Mr Eliseev, who has not been sanctioned, is also a major shareholder and chairman of shipping firm Globaltruck, which is partly owned by the Russian state, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
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Voi says it does not entertain any ties with Russia and has ceased all business operations with the country, including removing elements of its Russian supply chain and banning the sale of its vehicles. The company reiterated that Mr Eliseev has never been sanctioned and said it will always abide by any laws or sanctions that are in place.
Liverpool is one of a number of area of the country where the e-scooters - which users unlock and use via an app - are being trialled.
They are also currently available in Bristol, Bath and South Gloucestershire, but the area's Metro Mayor, Dan Norris has expressed concerns about the reports.
The BBC reports that Mr Norris emailed Voi chief executive Fredrik Hjelm at his Stockholm headquarters, asking for the company to 'take steps to ensure that this link between the company and the Russian regime currently pursuing an illegal invasion of Ukraine is severed.'
He added that the outcome of the matter would 'strongly affect' his thinking regarding the future use of the scooters in the West of England. Voi has recently blogged about its support for Ukraine following the Russian invasion. In a show of solidarity with the Ukraine people, all the company's e-scooters in the UK and Europe will flash blue and yellow between midday and 1pm (GMT) each day until March 22.
In a statement released to the ECHO, a Voi spokesperson said: "In order to ensure consistency with our aims and values as a company, Voi conducts background checks on all our investors before agreeing terms with them.
"We are currently revaluating the relationships we have with all partners in light of the recent developments in Ukraine and will take any and all actions deemed necessary to comply with any sanctions. This includes the removal of shareholders should they no longer align with our core values. We will always abide by any laws or sanctions that are in place.
"Alongside many international businesses, we believe Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a gross violation of international law and we stand on the side of democracy and the Ukrainian people at this time.
"We have also stopped reselling refurbished vehicles in Russia and are selling our minority stake in a Russian micromobility company.
"We are donating to the relief effort through UNHCR and supporting our Ukrainian employees, including offering positions where available to people fleeing the country."
Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment, Cllr Daniel Barrington said: “Voi has assured us that they are taking all necessary steps to comply with current sanctions and that they are in the process of re-evaluating their partnerships.
"We are closely monitoring this situation and will not hesitate to take further action should it be needed.
"We stand in unity with the Ukrainian people and as a city we are prepared to do all we can to help those seeking sanctuary in the UK.”
The trial of e-scooters in Liverpool has been popular, although there were some concerns raised about safety, with changes made to the scheme. The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Liverpool City Council, who are running the trial with Voi, last year heralded it as a success.
