Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank of England, walked out of an International Monetary Fund meeting in Bangkok after the Russian finance minister began speaking. Bailey joined finance leaders from France, Germany, and several Scandinavian and Baltic countries in leaving the session as a protest against Russian participation.
Russian finance minister Anton Siluanov was addressing the group when the walkout occurred.
The protest reflects widening diplomatic tensions at international financial forums. Western finance officials have increasingly used public departures to signal opposition to Russia's involvement in multilateral institutions. The IMF has continued to include Russian representatives at its meetings despite international sanctions and geopolitical conflict, creating friction among Western member states.
No statement from Bailey or other departing officials was included in the available information. The broader context of sanctions or specific policy disagreements was not detailed in the source material.