Tech CEO Defends Himself Against Employee Criticism That He Was Soft on Russia
- Epam’s Dobkin says comments could endanger employees in region
- Staffers had blasted company, Dobkin for stance on invasion
Police officers block access to Red Square during a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine in central Moscow on March 2.
Photographer: Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Under fire from employees in Ukraine for not speaking out against Russia’s invasion, the chief executive officer of a U.S. tech firm defended himself Thursday, saying he had to choose his words carefully to protect employees in region.
Epam Systems Inc., a Pennsylvania-based company with a large workforce in Ukraine, and its chief executive officer, Arkadiy Dobkin, had been criticized for failing to publicly condemn Russia and for not doing enough to support Ukraine’s defense.