Disney and Sony have earned £13.5m from their Russian joint venture, Walt Disney Studios Sony Pictures Releasing (WDSSPR), despite halting operations in the country after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
The payouts included a £13.1m dividend in March 2022 and £440,000 between July and December 2023. These payments stemmed from pre-suspension business activities, with around £9.1m still held in Russian accounts.
While neither company breached sanctions or acted improperly, the timing raises questions amid ongoing scrutiny of Western businesses’ ties to Russia. Both Disney and Sony have declined to comment.
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