A representative of the Bacardi management was added to the list of candidates for sanctions due to his support of doing business in the Russian Federation

25.10.2023

The NACP has included a top representative of the Bacardi Limited (which is already listed among international sponsors of war), in the list of candidates for sanctions. Konstantin Yakimov, who previously held the position of the head of Bacardi's Ukrainian office and now heads the company's representation in Kazakhstan. Yakimov is a citizen of the Russian Federation and directly influences the company's decision to stay in the Russian market. Due to the actions of individuals like Konstantin Yakimov, Bacardi's brands can be found not only in Russia but also in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Bacardi products are available in «Konfeterra» stores in Donetsk and Luhansk. In Crimea, the company's products can be purchased in the official stores of the distributor «Luding» and in Krasnikov Wine boutiques. The agency has already sent proposals to the Security Service of Ukraine regarding imposing sanctions on Konstantin Yakimov which may influence the company's position and encourage a decision to leave the Russian market. Individuals who are candidates for sanctions but have not yet been subjected to them almost immediately start facing various problems they did not have before, for example when opening accounts in foreign banks or obtaining visas for traveling abroad. This should also serve as an example and a warning to other international companies and their top management that continue to cooperate with the aggressor. Bacardi Limited is the largest private international alcoholic beverage company in the world, which the NACP has already included in the list of international sponsors of the war. The reason is that Bacardi continues to do business in Russia and actively seeks new employees there. The role of the NACP in sanctions policy is defined in the Roadmap for Individual Sanctions developed by the Stanford International Working Group on Russian Sanctions. The NACP is also the authority responsible for building a compliance system in the private sector. During compliance procedures, counterparties are subject to checks for integrity, including socially responsible business conduct in accordance with OECD standards.