Arkady Volozh, co-founder of the prominent Russian IT company Yandex, has taken the unprecedented step of hiring bodyguards. The decision came after Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly wished him “good health” in response to Volozh’s strong condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Volozh, now residing in Israel, disclosed this in an interview with Bloomberg, Ukrainian National News (UNN) reported.
In August 2023, Volozh publicly denounced Russia’s military aggression, calling the invasion of Ukraine “barbaric” and expressing horror over bombs being dropped on Ukrainian homes. His statement marked a sharp break from the Kremlin’s narrative and made him one of the most prominent Russian business figures to speak against the war.
The following month, Putin commented on Volozh’s criticism, dismissing it as “forced” because of Volozh’s residence in Israel. However, he described Volozh as a “talented businessman” and cryptically added, “Well, God bless him, let him live well there.”
This remark left Volozh uneasy. Shortly afterward, he decided to hire personal security for the first time. “It’s not that comfortable,” Volozh admitted, adding that he tries not to dwell on the implications of Putin’s words.
Notably, Putin has used the phrase “talented businessman” before, including in reference to Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Wagner Group leader who died in a mysterious plane crash. While the Kremlin denies any involvement in Prigozhin’s death, the parallels are difficult to ignore.
Volozh has distanced himself further from his homeland since condemning the invasion. In 2024, he successfully petitioned the European Union to lift sanctions imposed on him. During his interview, he compared the experience of being sanctioned to “a prison” and likened the sale of Yandex’s Russian operations to “the exodus of Jews from Egypt.”
He revealed that he has deleted Yandex apps from his phone, has not set foot in Russia since the start of the war, and has no intention of returning. “I thought the homesickness would be much stronger,” he confessed, underscoring his resolve to cut ties with the country.
| Timeline of Events | Details |
|---|---|
| August 2023 | Volozh condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, calling it “barbaric” and expressing deep horror. |
| September 2023 | Putin dismisses Volozh’s remarks as “forced,” but calls him a “talented businessman.” |
| Late 2023 | Volozh hires bodyguards following Putin’s cryptic “health wishes.” |
| 2024 | EU sanctions on Volozh are lifted after his condemnation of the invasion. |
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