Austrian banks reject Russian NGOs; ambassador cites media isolation
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Russia's Ambassador in Vienna said that the local media in Vienna is intentionally isolating the Russian embassy.
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Demonstrators protest in front of Hofburg Palace during an OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, in Vienna, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. (AP)
Austrian banks are declining to open accounts for Russian nonprofit organizations engaged in bilateral humanitarian and cultural cooperation, said Saturday Dmitry Lyubinsky, the Russian Ambassador in Vienna.
"Austrian banks, for instance, refuse to open accounts for Russian non-governmental organizations working in the field of bilateral humanitarian and cultural cooperation," Lyubinsky said on Telegram.
He further noted that the local media in Vienna is intentionally isolating the Russian embassy.
"Our embassy is in a pure and simple information blockade. Our comments and articles on topical issues of the international agenda almost never appear in the mainstream media. They say they [comments and articles] are contrary to our editorial policy," the ambassador added.
Lyubinsky highlighted that his "rare" interviews with Austrian media consistently include an editorial note explaining why a Russian official was granted the opportunity to speak.
The ambassador added that that the embassy is endeavoring to sustain informal communication with journalists and fostering relationships with online news outlets.
"We have always supported open and unbiased dialogue. The one condition is that they want to hear what we have to say," Lyubinsky said.
Read more: 95% of Western companies still operating in Russia: Austrian FM
Earlier this month, Anna Morris, an official responsible for enforcing US Treasury sanctions, visited Vienna to hold discussions with Austrian government officials and representatives from Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI).
According to reports, she urged the banking giant to scrutinize its connections with Russia and refrain from engaging in any transactions associated with the Russian military-industrial complex, warning that failure to comply could result in exclusion from the US financial system.
Austria's Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) is one of the few international banks that did not cease its operations with Russia and continues to operate inside the country following the start of the conflict in February 2022.
The visit follows an executive order from US President Joe Biden last December, strengthening "US sanctions authorities" against financial institutions that help Russia circumvent American sanctions.
RBI said it had often held talks with regulators regarding sanctions, noting that it always obliged by the relevant rules.
The US continues to face opposition from most of the European country's officials, some defending the bank's position, despite Austria supporting Ukraine.
Officials told Reuters that the reluctance to completely cut ties with Russia is driven by the idea that restoring ties with Moscow remains possible.
