Walz asks Legislature to order investment board to withdraw from Russian investments

Gov. Tim Walz is asking state lawmakers to take additional actions to sanction Russia amid its invasion of Ukraine.

Monday, Walz sent a letter to legislative leaders asking them to consider additional actions against Russia, including passing a bill to direct the State Board of Investment to withdraw its investments in Russian businesses and institutions.

“Legislation is the prudent way to take this action, and such action would be consistent with previous legislative acts prohibiting investments in Iran and Sudan. And this tangible act can be taken alongside the sanctions issued by President Biden,” Walz wrote in his letter.

RELATED: Walz orders state agencies to end contracts with Russian entities

The move comes less than a week after Walz condemned Russia’s aggression and ordered state agencies to end all existing contracts with Russian entities.