LONDON: HSBC has agreed to sell its Russia business to Expobank, signing a deal shortly before Moscow said it would move to block the sale of foreign banks’ Russian businesses in retaliation for restrictions imposed on its own lenders.

“Following a strategic review, HSBC has signed an agreement to sell 100% of its participating interests in HSBC Bank (RR) LLC to Expobank JSC,” a spokesperson for the bank told Reuters by email on Thursday.