LAS VEGAS — CES doesn’t allow Russian companies to showcase gadgets at its annual tech show because of its invasion of Ukraine.
A spokeswoman for the Consumer Technology Association, the industry group that hosts the event in Las Vegas, said the move only affected one potential exhibitor.
The organization did not immediately respond to inquiries about how many Russian companies had attended past CES events or whether interest in Russian companies had been low this year. It is one of about 30 countries that have imposed sanctions on
CTA president and CEO Gary Shapiro has previously called the Russian aggression a “tragic and illegal attack on the people of Ukraine and an independent state,” which led some Ukrainian tech companies and startups to move to Las Vegas. said it will showcase its gadgets at the show.
“Many people around the world want to help Ukraine,” Shapiro said in an interview, adding a Ukrainian flag pin to the collar of his jacket. And we bought things directly from Ukraine.”
The tech show is expected to attract up to 100,000 attendees by the time it concludes on Sunday. Tuesday night kicked off with media previews from just a few of his 3,000 companies that signed up. CES officially opens on Thursday. It is open to the media and others in the tech industry, but not to the general public.
