Ruder Finn stops handling tourism work for Maldives government

The agency has ceased handling an account thought to be worth around £93,000 per month supporting a tourism drive by the Maldives, just six months after being appointed.

The appointment led to protests after claims that former President Mohamed Nasheed was removed from office by force in a coup d'etat in February. Protesters picketed outside the agency’s offices in July.

Nasheed now faces charges of abusing power while in office, a charge which his party claims are politically motivated.

Agency boss Nick Leonard told PRWeek that the account had come to an end because it had reached the end of its allotted time frame.