Ukrainian "unicorn" airSlate still has an office in Russia — what is known and what is the company's position

July 12 edition AIN.UA published an article in which it said that the Ukrainian "unicorn" airSlate still has an office in St. Petersburg and does not plan to dismiss employees from the Russian Federation. The company does not refute this fact and says that "the law was not violated", and "the rights of employees were not restricted" and will not do so.

What happened?

AIN.UA on July 12, it published an article stating that airSlate (which has a large office in Ukraine and is estimated at 1 1.25 billion) does not plan to lay off the staff of the Russian office in St. Petersburg, where less than 20 people currently work.

The media also published quotes that, according to its information, belong to employees and co-founders of airSlate. In particular, the article said that team members have repeatedly stressed that the political position of business is fundamental for them, "up to dismissal if the company decides to continue working in Russia."

The journalists noted that they have a recording of a call from the management with the team. Referring to it, AIN.UA he says that airSlate condemns Russia's military aggression and helps employees with relocation, evacuation, pays assistance, and saves salaries to those who joined the army. But at the same time, it introduces a ban on discussing "political" topics publicly or at work until the end of the war. CEO Boris Shakhnovich directly said this during the round, the article says — he called the questions at the Q&A session with the team related to the Russian office unpleasant and inconsistent with the company's culture.

"All attempts to encourage the company's management to publicly accept this or that position will be rejected. If what matters to you is not what you do, but that your company has political sole proprietors, and that the company is engaged in promoting politics, you are in the wrong company, and you have chosen the wrong career, you need to turn to a political party close to your views," the CEO of airSlate quotes during the publication.

Does airSlate still have an office in Russia?

Now the company still has a legal entity in Russia. This was stated in an interview with DOU by Boris Shakhnovich himself.

"We really minimize our relations with the Russian Federation, close a legal entity there, stop hiring new employees," he said. When asked whether the process of termination of the legal entity is still ongoing, he replied: "Yes."

Later, DOU clarified in the company that "the process of closing a legal entity began in February-March." airSlate hired the firm to manage the company through the liquidation process. This process is expected to continue for another three months. When asked why the legal entity was not liquidated earlier, the company noted that they "needed time to assess the situation and find a way out."

"The lawyers also recommended not to do this immediately in February, so as not to expose the local management of the company to legal responsibility," DOU added in airSlate.

Does airSlate really not dismiss employees from the Russian Federation?

Yeah. This was stated, in particular, by the CEO of airSlate in an interview with DOU. According to him, at the beginning of the war, the company offered to leave many employees from the St. Petersburg office.

"Most of them left. Someone couldn't, either for personal or other reasons. But we are a company for which values are important. [...] We did not intend and are not going to punish those people with whom we worked and who have become our friends and colleagues over the years," Boris Shakhnovich said.

AirSlate also added that some of the team do not agree with the company's position regarding employees in the Russian Federation.

"We accept and understand this. At the beginning of the war, the CEO of airSlate clearly explained the company's position and urged everyone to work during business hours, and not argue. He did it again recently. airSlate, like any company, has certain rules and policies that we require you to follow. We have never violated the law or restricted the rights of our employees. And we will never do this, " the company noted.

What is the position of current and former airSlate employees?

Opinions were divided, judging by public comments. Some, for example, say that "hating airslate is not entirely constructive." From the arguments: access to the company's products is closed from Russian IP addresses; the company blocked all Russian customers on the second day of the war; is engaged in volunteering for the benefit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and so on. Others say that the fact that the company has not yet closed its office in the Russian Federation is unacceptable, given the war, as well as the position of the management regarding the dismissal of Russian employees.

DOU is trying to contact airSlate employees to find out more details about the situation.