At least 50 US and EU representatives left the forum in Uzbekistan during a speech by Russian deputy prime minister Alexander Novak, the Uzbek service of Radio Liberty reported.

After the Tashkent International Investment Forum opening ceremony, the plenary session was to be moderated by CNN Business editor-at-large and journalist Richard Quest, but according to sources, he refused to do so, probably because of the participation of a Russian official.

"As soon as he took the floor, political and business representatives from the US and most European Union countries left the hall in protest. I personally saw representatives from the US, UK, Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania walk out. At least 50 participants protested against the Russian official's participation in the forum," an unnamed European diplomat told RL.

He also called this decision a "political démarche." According to him, Novak began his speech with greetings from Putin.
https://x.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1933146494384640106