Tech Companies Feel Putin Pinch as Medvedev’s Hub Falters
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When Russian agents stormed the downtown offices of the Skolkovo technology hub being built near Moscow on April 18, a startled Intel Corp. executive got caught up in the raid.
Dusty Robbins, head of global programs for the world’s largest chipmaker, was forced to surrender his mobile phone and was only allowed to leave the building escorted by officers after Skolkovo officials appealed to investigators, two people familiar with the matter said. Robbins flew back to the U.S. without holding a planned meeting with Skolkovo’s billionaire president, Viktor Vekselberg, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the information is confidential.