Tech World Unites Against Russia, with MWC 2022 Banning Russia's Pavilion At the Event

By Ana Dascalescu

Posted on February 28, 2022

Mobile World Congress, the event where the tech world gathers every January to present its latest products, is also condemning Russia for its Ukraine invasion.

MWC 2022 started on Monday in Barcelona, a few days after the Russian invasion started in Ukraine, and its organizers moved fast to penalize the Russian companies it was supposed to host.

MWC 2022 banned the Russian Pavilion at the event and, according to Reuters, some Russian companies were banned as well, though no names have been released.

“The GSMA follows all government sanctions and policies resulting from this situation. There will be no Russian Pavilion at MWC22. Security for the event is constantly reviewed and adjusted as information emerges,” said GSMA, the organization holding the event, in a statement posted on its website.

GSMA also said that MWC22 is a “unifying event”, designed with a “vision to convene the mobile ecosystem to progress ways and means that connectivity can ensure people, industry, and society thrive”.

“The GSMA strongly condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The situation is fast-moving, and we understand that various governments are considering broader sanctions against Russia. In light of this emerging situation and considering the tragic loss of life, MWC seems immaterial under the circumstances. MWC is a unifying event with a vision to convene the mobile ecosystem to progress ways and means that connectivity can ensure people, industry, and society thrive.

The GSMA follows all government sanctions and policies resulting from this situation. There will be no Russian Pavilion at MWC22. Security for the event is constantly reviewed and adjusted as information emerges, “ is the full statement.

With this year’s theme being “connectivity”, this is the first year since the COVID-19 pandemic started when MWC was about to return to normal. The conference expects about 50,000 attendees, far less than the 109,000 attendees we saw at the 2019 event, but significantly greater than last year’s hybrid event with 20,000 physical attendees.

Take a look at our MWC22 coverage to see what this year will bring in terms of phones, gadgets and more.