We write to you as B4Ukraine, a coalition of Ukrainian and international civil society organizations working to curtail the financial resources enabling the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In the spirit of respect for the fundamental rights of all people, the rules-based international order, and a prosperous global economy, we expect companies to demonstrate public support for the people, democracy, and territorial integrity of Ukraine, opposition to Russia’s war of aggression, and alignment with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs).

We request an urgent dialogue regarding potential inconsistencies between Abbott’s obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law and the company’s ongoing business operations and relationships in Russia that may contribute to, or be linked with, human rights harms...

While we understand that Abbott claims that its reason for continuing operations in the country is providing essential goods and that medicine is exempt from sanctions, the ‘essentiality argument’ is under increasing scrutiny. For example, Professor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld of Yale University challenges these explanations by stating that the reasons are “misguided at best, cynical in the medium case, and outright deplorably misleading and deceptive”...

We seek to understand the status of Abbott’s exposure to Russia and how Abbott has conducted and continues to conduct heightened human rights due diligence, and how the findings of such a process have resulted in these continued business activities and relationships...