MOSCOW, May 22 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir

Putin has granted American Express Co ( AXP ) the right to

"voluntary liquidate" its Russian business, according to a

decree published on the official website.

It is not specified in the decree how and when exactly the

"liquidation" process will take place.

The future of American Express ( AXP ) in Russia has been uncertain

since March 2022, when the company suspended all operations in

the country following other Western corporations in response to

Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Moscow has steadily tightened restrictions on foreign

assets, with banks requiring Putin's approval for any deal.