Matt Romney to Russia: Pay no attention to my dad's rhetoric

A Romney Travels to Russia, but on Strictly Friendly Terms

WASHINGTON — Matt Romney, a son of the Republican presidential nominee, traveled to Moscow this week seeking Russian investors for his California-based real estate firm just days before his father is to wrap up a campaign in which he has vowed to take a tougher stance with the Kremlin.

Mr. Romney, the second-oldest son of Mitt Romney, met with Russians whom he hoped to convince to invest in his company, Excel Trust, which owns shopping centers across the United States, the firm said. Although the company’s focus has been solely domestic, it said it has begun exploring international opportunities to raise funds.

Mr. Romney’s trip a week before the presidential election underscored the complex relationship between his family’s business and the political campaign. Mitt Romney has criticized President Obama for being too soft on Russia, calling it “our No. 1 geopolitical foe” and promising to confront President Vladimir V. Putin’s government with “more backbone” if elected on Tuesday.

Mr. Romney has criticized Mr. Putin’s crackdown on domestic dissent and opposition to stronger international measures against Syria and Iran. He has assailed Mr. Obama for not doing more to defend human rights in Russia and for signing a nuclear arms reduction treaty with Moscow.

As Congress considers normalizing trade relations with Moscow, Mr. Romney has insisted that it also penalize Russian officials who commit human rights violations, a linkage the Obama administration has resisted.

The Romney campaign said it had no comment.

The Russian Embassy in Washington said it was unaware of the trip. “We haven’t got any information about Mr. Romney and his visit to Moscow,” said Yevgeny Khorishko, an embassy spokesman. “He didn’t inform us about his visit.”

But while in Moscow, Mr. Romney told a Russian known to be able to deliver messages to Mr. Putin that despite the campaign rhetoric, his father wants good relations if he becomes president, according to a person informed about the conversation.

 

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