Infosys, a technology corporation partly owned by Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s wife, is closing its office in Russia

Infosys, the Indian computer firm in which UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s wife holds shares worth more than £400 million, is closing its Russian headquarters.

According to the BBC, the corporation was looking for substitute opportunities abroad for Moscow-based employees.

Following the invasion of Ukraine, Infosys has been under pressure to shut down its Russian business.

Mr Sunak has also been questioned about his wife Akshata Murty’s ownership of the corporation formed by her father.

Following the invasion of Ukraine, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told Sky News that it was critical for the chancellor to reveal whether his family had been “benefiting from money produced in Russia when the [UK] government has imposed sanctions” on corporations and individuals.

Mr Sunak told the BBC’s Newscast podcast this week that criticism of his wife was “extremely hurtful,” and that he understood how Hollywood star Will Smith felt when comedian Chris Rock attacked his wife’s physical condition at the Oscars.

“At least I didn’t get up and slap anybody, which is nice,” he laughed.

Sunak replies, “I know how Will Smith felt at the Oscars.”
Sunak is being questioned about a company that operates in Russia.
On the same day as Lavrov, Truss travels to India.
In 2016, Infosys, one of India’s largest corporations with a presence in more than 50 countries, opened an engineering centre in Moscow, where it is estimated that up to 100 people work.

Many multinational IT corporations shut down operations in Ukraine after Russia invaded the country, but Infosys has kept “a tiny staff… based out of Russia that services some of our worldwide clients” till now.

In a subsequent statement, it said, “We do not have any active business partnerships with local Russian firms.”

Infosys’ spokeswoman declined to comment on the decision to close the Moscow office or on the company’s future cooperation with Russian firms.

Ms Murty’s 0.9 percent stake in Infosys is estimated to be worth more than £400 million.

Mr Sunak’s spokeswoman previously stated that neither she nor other members of her family “have any influence in the company’s operational decisions.”

However, Labour and the Liberal Democrats have argued that the chancellor must address questions about whether the shareholding benefits his family at a time when he is urging UK businesses to divest from Russia.

Sir Keir Starmer, Labour’s leader, told Sky News that it was “in the public interest” to do so.

“I’m not targeting their family,” he said, “but I do want to know if the chancellor’s household is benefiting from money from a corporation that is investing in Russia at a time when the government is clearly saying that no one should be doing that.”

The chancellor told Newscast that he was “fair game” for criticism since he was in public life, but it was “extremely upsetting and, I believe, wrong” for individuals to try to attack his wife.

Last year, Infosys, which has operations in London, Edinburgh, and Nottinghamshire, announced 1,000 new jobs in the UK.

Unlike the United Kingdom, India’s government has not criticised Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has not voted against it in the UN Security Council.