Arkady Volozh, a founder of Yandex with a fortune estimated at about 1.1 billion dollars by Forbes, has requested that European authorities consider removing the personal sanctions against him. This development was reported by the Financial Times based on conversations with people close to the matter.
According to those familiar with the situation, after publicly criticizing the Russian authorities over actions in Ukraine, Volozh’s legal team approached the European Union to seek the lift of sanctions placed on him personally.
One confidant described Volozh as someone who carried a sense of responsibility toward his country and its people. The source added that Volozh was deeply concerned about the impact of the sanctions on his reputation and future prospects, even as he faced the consequences of the broader geopolitical climate.
Observers noted that the aim of the appeal would be evaluated alongside the wider context of hundreds of sanctioned Russian businessmen who closely monitor Brussels updates. The Financial Times highlighted the challenge for European authorities in identifying feasible ways for sanctioned individuals to exit the restrictive regime while opposing Moscow’s actions in Ukraine.
A representative of the European Commission indicated that sanctions could be lifted through a court decision or if member states agree that there is convincing evidence that the individual or entity no longer meets the criteria for sanctions.
Volozh did not provide a comment to the Financial Times for the report.
Reasons for public silence and a changed stance
On a recent occasion, Volozh spoke against Russia’s military operation in Ukraine. In a statement shared with reporters, he acknowledged several reasons behind his previous silence, while asserting that the essence of his position remains clear. He noted that although he has not lived in Russia since 2014, he recognizes a share of responsibility for his country’s actions and their repercussions.
Volozh mentioned personal connections to Ukraine, noting that friends and relatives reside there. He also explained that he relocated to Israel in 2014, with Yandex expanding international projects since then. He described the founders as having once believed they were shaping a new Russia during their work at Yandex.
He stated that the global landscape changed in February 2022 and that his involvement with Yandex effectively reached its end. Subsequently, he stepped away from the company in December of the following year, a move he publicly communicated to staff as a New Year’s departure. In the present moment, he supports Russian engineers who choose to leave their homeland and pursue opportunities in advanced technology sectors abroad.
Changes to the biography and public profile
There were recent updates on Volozh’s official site describing him as an Israeli entrepreneur born in Kazakhstan, with a note that Russia appears in connection with CompTek, the company he led from 1989 to 2000. The profile presents Volozh as a Kazakh-born Israeli tech entrepreneur, a computer scientist, investor, and philanthropist who has contributed to the development of machine learning based products, as well as search and navigation technologies.
Similar edits appeared on an English language Wikipedia entry, where the designation has included phrases suggesting he spent most of his life in Russia and built his major business there. The intention behind these edits appears tied to the evolving narrative around his national and professional identity.
Volozh entered European Union sanctions on June 3, 2022, and on the same day announced his exit from the role of CEO and the board of Yandex, along with leadership positions in several international subsidiaries. The changes reflect a broader reconfiguration of the company’s leadership and its international strategy in response to the geopolitical climate.