Metro mayor Dan Norris is threatening to ban the company behind the Bristol region's e-scooter trial from operating in the area unless it severs ties to Russia. The West of England mayor has warned the boss of Sweden-based Voi Technology that its actions will 'strongly affect [his] thinking regarding the future use' of the firm’s electric two-wheelers.
It comes after it emerged that one of the operator’s major shareholders has close links to Russia, which has been widely condemned for invading Ukraine. In response, Voi says it has ceased all business activities in Russia and its ally Belarus and is reevaluating all its partners in light of the war to take 'all actions deemed necessary to comply with sanctions', including removing shareholders who 'no longer align with our core values'.
According to Bristol 24/7, Russian businessman Alexander Eliseev owns about £10.8m worth of shares in Voi. He is a major shareholder and chairman of shipping firm Globaltruck, which is partly owned by the Russian state through the wealth fund RDIF, reports say.
Read more: Controversial WECA e-scooter trial extended for second time
Swedish newspaper Di says Mr Eliseev has business links with Alexei Mordashov, an oligarch who has been sanctioned by the EU over the invasion. In an email to Voi chief executive Fredrik Hjelm at his Stockholm headquarters, Labour mayor Mr Norris said: “I trust that Voi is taking steps to ensure that this link between the company and the Russian regime currently pursuing an illegal invasion of Ukraine is severed. The outcome of this matter will strongly affect my thinking regarding the future use of Voi scooters in the West of England.”
Asked by Swedish website Breakit if he had been in contact with Mr Eliseev, whose shares make him Voi’s 12th largest owner, Mr Hjelm said: “Yes, but we are in constant contact with many shareholders, if not most. We will see how we can technically solve this. It is not the case that a shareholder disappears from the share register overnight, but it takes some time to find a solution or a transaction that achieves what you want.”
In a statement to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a Voi spokesperson said: “Following the Russian invasion, Voi publicly communicated its decision to cease all business activities in Russia and Belarus, including the reselling of refurbished vehicles. In regards to investors, in order to ensure consistency with our aims and values as a company, Voi conducts background checks on all our investors before agreeing on terms with them.
“None of our investors were under any sanctions when we accepted their investment, and, at the time of writing, none are currently under any sanctions. We are currently reevaluating all our partners in light of the recent developments in Ukraine and will take any and all actions deemed necessary to comply with 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 severe violation of international law and we stand on the side of democracy and the Ukrainian people at this time.”
The company posted a blog on Monday, March 7, headlined 'Voi stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine', which can be read here. Mr Norris recently announced that the West of England electric scooter experiment had been extended until November, meaning it will last at least two years.
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