Richard Branson, Virgin Group cut Saudi ties after Khashoggi disappears

Virgin Group founder Sir
Richard Branson.
Gareth
Cattermole/Getty

• Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Group are severing their
  business relationships with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• In a blog post on Virgin Group’s website, Branson
  announced that Virgin Galatic and Virgin Orbit will suspend its
  business dealings with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi
  Arabia. 
• The decision to cut business ties with Saudi Arabia
  comes after the disappearance of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi from the
  Saudi Consulate in Turkey last week.

Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Group are severing their business
relationships with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its leader
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman following the disappearance of Saudi journalist
Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey last week.

In a blog post on Virgin Group’s
website, the company’s founder announced that Virgin Galatic
and Virgin Orbit will suspend its discussions with the
Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia. 

“What has reportedly happened in Turkey around the disappearance
of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, if proved true, would clearly
change the ability of any of us in the West to do business with
the Saudi Government,” Branson said in the post. “We have asked
for more information from the authorities in Saudi and to clarify
their position in relation to Mr. Khashoggi.”

In addition, Branson will also suspend his association with two
tourism projects on the Red Sea. 

Khashoggi has not been seen since visiting the Saudi Consulate in
Istanbul last Tuesday to pick up marriage documents. Turkish
authorities believe the Washington Post columnist and critic of
the Saudi Arabian Government was killed in the consulate. The
59-year-old had been living in exile. 

Here is Sir Richard’s blog post in its entirety:

I had high hopes for the current government in the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia and its leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and
it is why I was delighted to accept two directorships in the
tourism projects around the Red Sea. I felt that I could give
practical development advice and also help protect the precious
environment around the coastline and islands.

What has reportedly happened in Turkey around the disappearance
of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, if proved true, would clearly
change the ability of any of us in the West to do business with
the Saudi Government. We have asked for more information from the
authorities in Saudi and to clarify their position in relation to
Mr Khashoggi.

While those investigations are ongoing and Mr Khashoggi’s
presence is not known, I will suspend my directorships of the two
tourism projects. Virgin will also suspend its discussions with
the Public Investment Fund over the proposed investment in our
space companies Virgin Galactic and Virgin Orbit.