Tory peer Greg Barker resigns as chair of Russian firm EN+
The Conservative peer Greg Barker has resigned as chairman of EN+, the mining company part-owned by the sanctioned Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska.
Lord Barker, an energy minister in David Cameron’s government, oversaw a plan to help the firm respond to US government sanctions levelled against the company and Deripaska in 2018, when it sanctioned the oligarch over his alleged links to the Russian government. Deripaska has previously said the US allegations were based on “false rumour and innuendo”.
Barker’s resignation comes amid intense scrutiny of companies linked to sanctioned Russian oligarchs, alleged by authorities in the US, EU and UK to be part of the system through which Vladimir Putin controls the Russian economy.
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the London Stock Exchange last week suspended trading in EN+ along with more than 30 other Russian-linked firms, “in light of market conditions, and in order to maintain orderly markets”.
While Barker will step down as chairman of the listed company, EN+ on Monday confirmed reports that it is considering carving out a large part of the aluminium business, which includes the part-owned subsidiary Rusal.
The new company would be owned by management and non-Russian investors, and potentially led by Baker, according to a report by Bloomberg News that was referenced by EN+. It would take on Rusal’s alumina, bauxite and aluminium assets across the globe, including in Africa, Australia and Europe.
Barker’s role with the company has proven highly controversial ever since he joined but pressure has mounted in recent days amid strong criticism from Conservative party colleagues and scrutiny on directorships in companies linked to Russian oligarchs.
The UK defence secretary, Ben
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