Erdogan says Abramovich part of Russian delegation at Istanbul talks

31 March 2022, 4:30 pm

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In this image taken from a video provided by the Turkish Presidency, Russian Roman Abramovich, top center, 3rd from right, listens to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the Russian and Ukrainian delegations meeting for talks in Istanbul, Turkey, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (Turkish Presidency via AP)

Russian-Israeli oligarch Roman Abramovich, sanctioned by Western nations over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, was part of Moscow’s delegation at negotiations in Istanbul this week, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is citing as saying, according to Reuters.

Abramovich was seen at Tuesday’s talks in Istanbul. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he is not an official member of the delegation. A video showed him sitting among observers rather than at the main table with the negotiating teams.

“Abramovich participated in the negotiations as part of the Russian delegation. Rather than looking at who was at the table, we should look at on whose behalf they were there,” Erdogan says to broadcaster NTV according to Reuters.

“If Russia and [President Vladimir] Putin preferred to put Abramovich in their delegation, that means they believe and trust in him,” he adds.