The NACP invites CEOs of international companies that have not stopped working in the Russian Federation to visit Ukraine

16.08.2023

The National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) sent letters to the companies that were included in the list of international sponsors of the war. The agency offers the CEOs of such companies to visit Ukraine and see the consequences of Russian aggression with their own eyes and discuss the exit of business from Russia. «If someone thinks that the war is somewhere far away, then it is not so. This war affects everyone, and its consequences are felt by the whole world. We want to clearly show international business where and for what exactly the taxes it pays to a terrorist state go. That is why we invite the management of companies from the list of war sponsors to Ukraine. We are ready to demonstrate the horror that Russia has brought to our land and continues to do so», — stated Oleksandr Novikov, the Head of the NACP. The letter also states that the NACP is open to dialogue regarding the strategies of the companies on the list of war sponsors regarding exit from Russia. The Agency hopes to hear relevant public statements by companies regarding the condemnation of Russian aggression against Ukraine, to see corporate decisions regarding business activity in the Russian Federation (for example, reduction of activities or exit from the market). It is worth noting that such an initiative is fully in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which must be followed by responsible enterprises. According to them, in order to assess human rights risks, business enterprises should, among other things, engage in meaningful consultations with potentially affected groups and other relevant stakeholders (Principle 18). The list of international sponsors of the war on the "War and Sanctions" portal is a tool introduced by the NACP with the aim of encouraging international companies that continue to work in the Russian Federation to leave Russia, stop paying taxes there, and to stop supporting the occupying forces with goods and services (as in the case of with preferential bank loans for the Russian military). All this creates in the eyes of the world community the illusion of "normality" of cooperation with the aggressor. When forming the list, the NACP refers to the OECD standards on Responsible business conduct (RBC). Financing an aggressor country is completely against them. The NACP is the body responsible for implementing the compliance system in the private sector. During compliance procedures, counterparties must undergo integrity checks, including socially responsible business conduct in accordance with OECD standards. The "International War Sponsors" project is a powerful reputational tool for achieving the benevolence of elements of global supply chains, the exit of international business from Russia. This, in turn, will reduce Russia's financial and technological ability to kill Ukrainians.