• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Meet the Team
  • Contact us
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
  • JOBS
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
  • JOBS
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Business and Economics Business

UK firms under pressure over Belarus links

“In terms of British business, their attitude so far has been pretty much along the lines of ‘as long as we can make money we do’."

Andra Maciuca by Andra Maciuca
2021-05-30 17:34
in Business, News
Belarusian Journalist Raman Pratasevich

Belarusian Journalist Raman Pratasevich. Photo: PA.

FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

The role of UK firms in allegedly helping Europe’s “last dictatorship” is under intense scrutiny, The Guardian has reported.

Rolls-Royce and British American Tobacco are among firms that have responded to Belarusian diaspora lobbying and expressed willingness to take action.

In the wake of the “hijacking” of a Ryanair plane and the arrest of two passengers onboard, the Belarusian journalist Raman Pratasevich and his Russian girlfriend, activists in the UK have stepped up lobbying of the holders of Belarus bonds listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).

Rolls-Royce, a supplier of BelAZ, a Belarusian vehicle factory and one of the world’s largest manufacturers of large dump trucks, confirmed to The Guardian that it was investigating concerns raised about the relationship between its Power Systems business, based in Germany, and BelAZ.

“Depending on the outcome, we may choose to take action in relation to our existing and any future business relationship,” a Rolls-Royce spokesperson said.

The company spokesperson added: “We are guided by our values when considering such matters and, of course, we comply in full with any applicable sanctions.”

Money first?

Protests have been taking place outside the offices of British American Tobacco over its connections with the state-owned Grodno Tobacco Factory (GTF) Neman, the largest cigarette producer in Belarus.

RelatedPosts

Victory for Burnham as Manchester bus fares capped at £2 for adults and £1 for children

Labour membership down 91,000 under Starmer

‘Much-loved’ elderly man stabbed to death in mobility scooter

Red tape latest: Cyclists may need number plates under new UK law

“Britain is a window to the world. It is a high financial centre. It has an important role in trade despite Brexit. So we are stepping up our campaign,” said a spokesperson for the Professional Union of Belarusians in Britain.

The spokesperson added: “BAT has been an important example, but we have also become aware of indications that some British companies are buying wood from Belarus and the figures there have been quite significant. We are going to investigate that as well.

“In terms of British business, their attitude so far has been pretty much along the lines of ‘as long as we can make money we do’. Many big companies have codes of conduct with pleasant-sounding wording, but there are questions about how they are employed in practice when it comes to Belarus.”

A BAT spokesperson said the company was committed to complying with all the applicable local and international legislative requirements as well as its own standards. “In line with our commitment to respect human rights, this year we will undertake additional actions: BAT Belarus will be subject to an enhanced human rights due-diligence process; and the GTF Neman factory, as a supplier to the BAT Group, will be subject to an onsite workplace conditions assessment by our third-party audit provider.”

Related: Just ‘look at the flight path’: Reaction as Ryanair flight diverted to Minsk

Video – 200 women arrested by Belarusian police at opposition protest

Tags: BelarusRaman PratasevichUK companies

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.

The shop can be found here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending on TLE

  • All
  • trending
Abdollah

‘Rescue us’: Afghan teacher begs UK to help him escape Taliban

CHOMSKY: “If Corbyn had been elected, Britain would be pursuing a much more sane course”

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

More from TLE

Hard Brexit cliff-edge could be beckoning next year, Micheal Martin warns

ERG MPs reveal how Johnson’s deal paves way for no deal Brexit next year

Tory austerity strangled the economic recovery after the last crisis, we cannot afford to allow them to do it again

Jeremy Corbyn calls on Government to let public see its no-deal impact assessments

How to host a vegan Christmas

‘People over pets’: Wallace sinks Pen Farthing’s ‘Operation Ark’

England finally find success in the UAE and the end for Bell?

Hackney Polo Club releases banging bass house EP after horror surf accident

‘Mr Broccoli’ protester accused of being ‘a plant’ for meat industry on GMB as Piers Morgan clash goes viral

Four reasons to worry about your job

JOBS

FIND MORE JOBS

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.