British American Tobacco announces plans to close its business in Russia and Belarus in 2023 — the company’s website

In its forecasts for 2023, the company noted "organic growth of foreign currency revenue by 3-5%, influenced by the timing of the transfer of the Russian and Belarusian businesses, expected to be closed in 2023."

However, in an interview with the Financial Times, BAT CEO Jack Bowles said he could not guarantee that the sale would be completed by the end of the year and that efforts to sell the Russian business to a local partner could continue until 2024.

"Because I don't have a crystal ball, I can't be certain about that, but the goal is to get it done. We want to exit the (Russian - ed.) market in 2023," Bowles said.

As a reminder, on March 11, 2022, British American Tobacco ceased operations in Russia.