Airbnb’s offer of accommodation to individuals and tourists will disappear from the Airbnb platform in Russia and Belarus.
It was announced by the CEO of the company, Brian Chesky, in a publication in Twitter This Friday, March 4.
Chesky, who included a Ukrainian flag on his profile on the social network co-founded by Jack Dorsey, said the suspension was due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The decision of the CEO of Airbnb occurs less than 24 hours after the firm reported that it will offer free accommodation to 100,000 refugees who have fled from Ukraine to neighboring countries, both in Poland and Romania.
Airbnb’s goal is to “collaborate with governments,” according to the platform, “supporting the need that is generated in each country.” Airbnb said that, if necessary, it will offer free accommodation on long-term stays.
Airbnb is suspending all operations in Russia and Belarus
— Brian Chesky 🇺🇦 (@bchesky) March 4, 2022
Airbnb leaves Russia What happens to Expedia and Booking?
Airbnb’s announcement is in line with a decision by Expedia Group, which as of last week has stopped offering travel to and from Russia, including Expedia’s Vrbo vacation rentals.
In the case of Booking.com, there have been no announcements in this regard yet. Hiring accommodation and flights to and from Russia are available.
Not everyone agrees with Chesky’s decision. The most-liked response to the Airbnb CEO’s announcement tweet reads: “Are you taking income and housing away from ordinary people after their life savings dropped 30% in a week and half of their accounts banks not working? Do you want applause? Will Airbnb stock go up? Will your followers increase?
Another of the comments reads: “This is harmful to the innocent people in Russia and Belarus who have no role in the conflict and do not decide anything, authoritarian leaders do. This will also have no impact on what Putin or Lukashenko does. I would ask you to please reconsider.”
And there is more: “More discrimination against the Russian people. What is the fault of the segment of people who are against the Russian authorities?
Another comment expresses: “This is ridiculous. I don’t understand why everyone seems to think that the people of a country should be held accountable for the behavior of their government. All these service sanctions against people in Russia will only arouse anger towards the rest of the world.”
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