The co-founder of Yandex spoke out against the war in Ukraine

The co-founder of Yandex, billionaire Arkady Volozh, spoke out against the war in Ukraine. His press service sent a corresponding statement to various media outlets, in particular to Meduza .

The other day, the media noticed that Volozh’s biography, published on his website, does not mention Russia. It said that he was an Israeli entrepreneur born in Kazakhstan.

Below is the full text of Arkady Volozh's statement.

I've been asked a lot of questions over the past year, and especially this week. I would like to clarify my position. It is important to me to be heard by all parties, which is why this statement is written in two languages.

My position on the war in Ukraine

I am categorically against Russia's barbaric invasion of Ukraine, where I, like many, have friends and relatives. I am horrified that every day bombs are flying into the houses of Ukrainians.

Despite the fact that I have not lived in Russia since 2014, I understand that I also have some responsibility for the actions of the country.

About Yandex

When we created Yandex, we thought not only about technology and business. We believed that we were building a new Russia - open, progressive, integrated into the global economy, known in the world not only for its raw materials.

Yandex as a technology company was built thanks to the incredibly talented engineers we were able to attract, retain, and nurture.

We were not the only ones who believed in the possibility of building a new Russia. Russian entrepreneurs, scientists and many others who had the opportunity to leave Russia in the 1990s still decided to stay and help build the country they dreamed of. This opportunity comes once in a lifetime. Many foreigners also came to Russia. International companies, businessmen, entrepreneurs.

Over time, it became clear that Russia is in no hurry to become part of the global world. At the same time, pressure on the company grew. But we didn’t give up, we did everything possible despite the external conditions. Have you always managed to find the right balance? Now, looking back, it is clear that something could have been done differently.

What have I been doing for the last year and a half?

In 2014, I moved to Israel and since then I have been developing international Yandex projects. But in February 2022, the world changed, and I realized that my story with Yandex was over.

After the war began, I focused on supporting talented Russian engineers who decided to leave the country and start a new life. This turned out to be a difficult task that required a lot of effort, attention and caution.

Now these people are outside Russia and can start doing something new in the most advanced areas of technology. They will bring enormous benefits to the countries where they remain.

There were many reasons why I had to remain silent. One can argue about the timeliness of my statement, but not about its essence.

I am against war.

Arkady Volozh

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