Yevgeny Prigozhin’s mutiny may have fizzled out, but the Kremlin now faces a deeply unstable situation. The failed rebellion and the “short-term fix” — in the form of an apparent truce with the Wagner Group — will have far reaching consequences.
For multinational companies remaining in Russia, “business as usual” is no longer an option. A failure of leadership to conduct proper due diligence in their operations has caught many unaware, unprepared and exposed to charges of complicity in war crimes. They now face a whole new set of serious risks and uncertainty. It’s time to act responsibly, protect human rights and get out. This might be your last chance to leave Russia, once and for all.
Companies outside of Russia who produce and trade in critical military and dual use components play a crucial role. These companies must now double down on due diligence for supply chains, intermediaries, customers and end users to ensure their products don’t fall into the wrong hands.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the taxes paid, supply chains supported and technology provided by Western companies have helped enable the war - and now risk fuelling further horror.
Businesses have a responsibility to ensure they do not cause, contribute to, or are linked to human rights harms. Now, more than ever, companies doing business with Russia must ensure they live up to this responsibility.