Commissioner Nikki Fried calls for Florida to divest from Russia

FLORIDA — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Nikki Fried this week called for the state of Florida to immediately divest from Russian-backed entities in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

“Florida is a well-known hub for Russian investments, and we should do everything in our power to prevent our state’s financial activity from, directly or indirectly, aiding Russia as it wages unprovoked war against Ukraine,” Fried said in a letter to Governor Ron DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody, and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, who are trustees of the Florida State Board of Administration.

“We must review our state purchases and our investments, including investments with any company or institution that is on a list of Russian headquartered entities, and make changes as necessary,” said Fried.

“It is imperative that we not only speak out against these attacks on democracy, but that we ensure Florida taxpayer dollars are not propping up the autocratic regime in Russia,” she continued.

Here is the full text of the letter:

Governor DeSantis, Attorney General Moody, and Chief Financial Officer Patronis:

As trustees of the Florida State Board of Administration, I am writing today to urge you to divest Florida from Russian-backed entities in response to the invasion of Ukraine. We must unite as a state, nation, and global community to condemn these actions of war from Vladimir Putin and Russia, and we must send a strong message that we will not allow aggressions against democracy anywhere. Our state should immediately begin to cancel state contracts with Russian businesses and divest from Russian firms and other entities that have business ties to the country.

Florida is a well-known hub for Russian investments, and we should do everything in our power to prevent our state’s financial activity from, directly or indirectly, aiding Russia as it wages unprovoked war against Ukraine. We must review our state purchases and our investments, including investments with any company or institution that is on a list of Russian headquartered entities, and make changes as necessary. Several other states, including Colorado and New York, have severed economic ties with Russia in recent days.

It is imperative that we not only speak out against these attacks on democracy, but that we ensure Florida taxpayer dollars are not propping up the autocratic regime in Russia.

Thank you in advance for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

Nicole Fried
Commissioner of Agriculture