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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Governor Charlie Baker signed an executive order Thursday calling for the termination of all executive branch contracts and agreements with any Russian state-owned companies in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Executive Order 597 calls for all executive branch agencies to review and cancel any contracts made with Russian state-owned companies and review any partnerships with the Russian government, entities it controls, or any companies it owns.
The order also encourages independent agencies, public education institutions, and other constitutional offices to do the same.
“With this order, we hope to build on the sanctions the federal government has already placed on Russia for their unjustified attack on Ukraine,” Governor Charlie Baker said in a statement. “The Commonwealth of Massachusetts condemns the actions of Russia and stands firmly with the free and democratic nation of Ukraine.”
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This comes after a group of bipartisan state senators introduced a bill Thursday that called for the state to end all of its contracts with Russia. The bill also gave State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg to divest state pension funds from investing in Russia and Russian companies and prevent them from accessing financial institutions in Massachusetts.
The governor's order also calls for the Office of Refugees and Immigrants to work with the Federal Office of Refugee Resettlement to support any Ukrainian immigrants and refugees fleeing the war in Russia.
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