Broadband firm Upp Corporation has seen its owner ordered to sell up by the government amid national security concerns stemming from Russian involvement in the firm.
Upp owner LetterOne faces the order due to two Russian oligarchs who invest through the company, Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven.
The government ordered the sale under the recently introduced National Security and Investment Act, given Upp’s building and operating of high-speed broadband networks in the Midlands and East of England.
“The Secretary of State considers that the final order and its provisions are necessary and proportionate to prevent, remedy, or mitigate the risk to national security,” said a government spokesperson.
LetterOne (L1) responded by saying: “We believe that L1 ownership of Upp is not a threat to national security in any way,” continuing: “L1 is not sanctioned and has taken fast, decisive action to put in place strong measures to distance L1 from its sanctioned shareholders.”