Belarusian activists urge companies engaged with Belarus Government to take immediate action in response to ongoing human rights violations, incl. company responses
Nationwide protests started in Belarus after official election results were announced on the night of 10 August, in which Aleksandr Lukashenko was declared the winner. Those results are seen by many in Belarus and abroad as being rigged in favor of Lukashenka. The protesters have faced violent persecution by the authorities. As of 10 January 2021, more than 30,000 Belarusians have been taken into police custody. A number of workers and trade union leaders were arrested and detained.
Concerned about this situation, Belarusian activists reached out to a large number of companies engaged with Belarus Government urging them to take immediate action in response to ongoing human rights violations.
Business and Human Rights Resource Centre invited 49 of those companies to respond. BASF SE, Commerzbank, Cummins, Daimler AG, Helaba, Henkel AG, KfW IPEX-Bank, Robert Bosch GmbH, Siemens AG, Société Générale, B.Strautmann & Söhne GmbH u. Co. KG and Zeppelin GmbH responded. Albert Karsten Holz-Importe GmbH, Amazonen-Werke H. Dreyer GmbH & Co. KG, AXXO Im- und Export GmbH, Barclays, Bayer AG, BMP Pharma Trading AG, Caterpillar, Citigroup, CLAAS KGaA, Duisburger Hafen AG, Eickhoff, Gersis GmbH, Goodyear, H&R Ölwerke Schindler GmbH, HanseCom Public Transport Ticketing Solutions GmbH, Hauni Maschinenbau GmbH, Heine + Beisswenger Stiftung + Co. KG, HLD Hoyerswerda Umwelt GmbH, IBA IT GmbH, Knauf Gips KG, Kontinent Spedition GmbH, Michelin, ML Lubrication GmbH, Mukran Port Sassnitz GmbH, REMONDIS SE & Co. KG, SAP SE, Schaeffler AG, Schenker Deutschland AG, SMS Group GmbH, Viessmann Werke GmbH, Yokohama and ZEISS did not respond.
Company responses and non-responses are available below. We will indicate here if we receive any additional responses.