Beverly Hills City Council Denounces Russia's Ukraine Invasion

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — The Beverly Hills City Council on Tuesday denounced the Russian invasion of Ukraine and affirmed its support of federal sanctions.

The City Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting U.S. efforts and the Ukrainian people as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continued. The invasion has garnered global opposition, sanctions and divestment of Russian holdings.

Tuesday's resolution directed city staff to research and implement any federal sanctions, including divesting city investments in Russian assets, terminating contracts with Russian firms and more.

The city's investment portfolio does not include any direct Russian-based assets, City Treasurer Howard Fisher said at Tuesday's council meeting. There were some indirect connections through companies such as Apple, which are addressing the invasion themselves, he said.

"What we are seeing now is very quick action by the U.S. and other governmental agencies within the United States, which is very heartening to see," Councilmember Lester Friedman said. He added: "Any action that we can take to condemn this, and the actions that the world is taking to cut off the Russian government, should be supported and applauded."

The resolution also condemned the "unjustified, unprovoked, premeditated, uncivilized" Russian invasion of Ukraine and offered Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy honorary citizenship in the city — a symbolic gesture signaling support.

"I hope that President Zelenskyy really feels from our community [and] from the world that he's not alone," Vice Mayor Lili Bosse said. She added: "I think this is a message to the president of Ukraine and the nation of Ukraine and the world that we are not silent."