Bayer Announces Stoppage of ‘Non-Essential’ Business in Russia and Belarus
Bayer Cutting Ties 031522
On March 14, Bayer released a statement saying the company was stopping all ‘non-essential’ business in Russia and Belarus.
This includes the following actions in the Russian and Belarusian markets:
- Suspending all advertising and other promotional activities.
- Halting capital investment projects indefinitely.
- Not pursuing any new business opportunities.
The company said: “More than two weeks have passed since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. From the outset, we have utterly condemned this brutal aggression against a sovereign country. Our hearts ache as we see the devastation and death affecting innocent civilians, including children. Thousands have been killed or wounded, millions are fleeing the country, and the humanitarian situation of those who stay is deteriorating by the hour. We stand by the people of Ukraine who can fully count on our solidarity and support.”
To support Ukrainian farmers, Bayer says, “Our seeds and agricultural inputs stand ready for the planting season for farmers in Ukraine and we hope that the Ukrainian farmers will be able to secure the 2022 harvest. We are prepared to support them as the window for planting is closing in only a few weeks.”
Bayer has 700 employees in Ukraine, which will be provided with financial aid, shelter and evacuation assistance.
Additional aid will be provided by the Euro Disaster Relief Fund, which gives monetary assistance and donated health products including antibiotics, as well as the Red Cross relief campaign, which Bayer is matching employee donations to.
Bayer also said, “We have also heard voices calling for a complete stop of delivery of all our products to Russia and Belarus. We understand these concerns as the war raises moral and ethical issues for every company.”
And the company said, “We will closely monitor the political situation and decide about supplies for 2023 and beyond at a later stage, depending on Russia stopping its unprovoked attacks on Ukraine and returning to a path of international diplomacy and peace.”
Read the full statement from Bayer here.
