Florida Democrats’ Pleas Went Unheard: DeSantis Administration Will Not Divest From Russian Assets

The $300 million in Florida pension money is invested by the Florida Retirement System in Russian-owned assets.

Florida’s Democratic Congress members’ repeated requests for Gov. Ron DeSantis to pull Florida’s investments out of Russian assets finally received a response, if only via a statement issued by the Republican’s top spokesperson.

The communication from the governor announced that the administration would not move to divest the $300 million in Florida pension money invested by the Florida Retirement System in Russian-owned and Russian-headquartered assets and companies like Norilsk Nickel, Lukoil, and Rosneft Oil.

Prior to the announcement, the state’s top Democrats—including Reps. Kathy Castor, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Val Demings, Lois Frankel, Al Lawson, Darren Soto, and Frederica Wilson—wrote a letter urging the governor to “prevent our state from providing resources to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and the Russian armed forces.”

“Floridians, our constituents, are patriotic Americans with deep convictions,” read the letter signed by US Rep. Charlie Crist, who is running against DeSantis in November. “It is time for our state’s government to do what is right and sever its ties to Russia.”

The Democrats’ letter also touched on a sore subject in Florida, home to many Cuban and Venezuelan exiles running from Communist dictatorships.

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“Putin is providing a lifeline of support to the nefarious activities of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro and Cuba’s Miguel Díaz-Canel,” the letter went on to say. “By refusing to divest from Russian-owned assets and companies, Florida is propping up these dictators.”

DeSantis’ Silence Speaks Loudly

But this proved to be of no avail. After DeSantis’ administration announced that it will not divest from Russian assets, Crist blasted the governor for his “weak” stance in the face of Russia’s attack on a Democratic nation.

“For over a month now, Governor DeSantis has proven himself weak in the face of Putin’s murderous attacks on democratic Ukraine,” expressed Crist. “Instead of divesting our state pension from Russia, the DeSantis Administration has chosen to continue backing Vladimir Putin’s war machine with Florida taxpayer dollars. Under Governor DeSantis, an authoritarian regime is being fueled by Florida’s pension money, while Ukrainians lose their lives defending their democracy.”

Even as Russian dictator Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis kept silent on the subject. He has opted not to mention the Russian invasion that the United Nations human rights office said on Sunday has killed 1,119 civilians so far, including children. The reason, his staff says, is because it does not affect Florida.