back to article IBM finally shutters Russian operations, lays off staff

After freezing operations in Russia earlier this year, IBM has told employees it is ending all work in the country and has begun laying off staff.  A letter obtained by Reuters sent by IBM CEO Arvind Krishna to staff cites sanctions as one of the prime reasons for the decision to exit Russia.  "As the consequences of the war …

  1. IceC0ld

    TBH, surprised they were still there in any fashion, but good for them to maintain pay for their employees for as long as they have, no matter how the war in Ukraine turns out, Russia will NEVER be a world player in my lifetime, they seem to have screwed the pooch on this good style

    it may NOT be the ordinary Russian people who are to blame, but they are the ones who will bear the brunt

    and also, sadly, it seems more and more that there are those in the populace who not only believe the stories they are fed, but are actively encouraging their offspring to do as they wish whilst they are in Ukraine :o(

    sad times all round

    1. elsergiovolador Silver badge

      Given that IBM in the past collaborated with Nazis, it's not really surprising.

      Now that people have access to information, I suspect the pull out is a result of a bad PR and possible long term loses had they stayed.

      it may NOT be the ordinary Russian people who are to blame

      There is not a strong resistance movement, very few protests and the approval for the invasion is overwhelming.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Given that IBM in the past collaborated with Nazis, it's not really surprising.

        Everybody from that era is dead. Let it go.

        1. elsergiovolador Silver badge

          How people are going to learn from history by "letting it go" and not mentioning it?

          Maybe if IBM had at very least apologised you could look at it differently, but their handling of it (by people who are certainly not dead) was shameful.

          Well, you can learn a lesson that you can turn a profit by collaborating with murderous regimes, but you need a good PR and an army of people who will be saying "let it go" whenever it is mentioned.

          I guess this time IBM decided it's not worth it.

      2. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        It's not approval per se, as far as I know. Many Russians just don't care enough about politics and, if asked, reply with nonsense no-answers depicting a sort of nihilism with any illusion of support for the war coming from the usual necessity to create psychological congruence and stable worldview. The latter even produces something akin to double-think at times to avoid acknowledging that they don't have any viable tools to influence the situation as proper democratic institutes are basically broken down in the country.

      3. jmch Silver badge

        "There is not a strong resistance movement, very few protests and the approval for the invasion is overwhelming"

        Though to be honest, what else do you expect?? A large majority of Russians have no access (or maybe even interest) in non-Putin-propaganda news sources, and have been fed this bullshit for years. In the case of teenagers and young adults, they have literally been inundated by this propaganda their whole life, including quite probably all through school.

        For the silent minority, staying silent is what is keeping them out of jail...

        1. sanmigueelbeer Silver badge

          staying silent is what is keeping them out of jail

          And from getting conscripted into the war.

      4. Lars Silver badge
        Coat

        @elselsergiovolador

        Lets not forget some Americans still believe Trump von the election, and the US is an open society and not as closed as Russia of today.

        To claim the approval for the invasion is overwhelming, is not based on any provable information.

  2. PhilipN Silver badge

    HP loses estd. 1bn in sales

    Anyone know how much net profit lost that translates to - if any?

    And assuming that means abandoning all the related regional logistics and other support - all cost centres - HP probably comes out ahead.

    In any event the accountants will be busy turning the shuttering costs into a balance sheet positive.

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