Raiffeisen Bank International failed in another attempt to sell a stake in its Russian business, reported Reuters, citing two sources. Russian officials opposed the sale partly because they feared that the acquisition of a stake by a Russian buyer could lead to Western sanctions against RBI, the agency's interlocutor said.
Raiffeisen Bank in Russia is the largest lender in the country not subject to sanctions that have isolated local competitors, making it extremely important for trade payments with Russia, including gas exports to Europe. Meanwhile, Russian authorities are striving to maintain the remaining economic ties with Europe, which still buys oil and gas from Russia worth billions of euros a year.
Raiffeisenbank is necessary for Moscow as a gateway for money transfers to Europe. In particular, the bank processes payments for fuel supplies via the "Turkish Stream" pipeline, the only route for gas deliveries to EU countries. From January to August 2025, gas worth approximately $3.8 billion was exported through the pipeline.
A Raiffeisen representative stated that the company is reducing its operations in Russia and that any sale of its business requires the approval of Russian authorities, without commenting on any recent negotiations.
Photo: RBC