The role of UK companies in allegedly helping to prop up Europe’s so-called “last dictatorship” is coming under unprecedented pressure amid signs that lobbying by Belarusian exiles and others is paying off. But among the UK-based companies to have responded are some which have been alerted to alleged severe violations of workers’ rights to assemble, strike and form independent trade unions at Belarusian state-owned enterprises. The largest cigarette factory in Belarus makes cigarettes under licence for BAT. “BAT has been an important example, but we have also, for example, become aware of indications that some British companies are actually buying wood from Belarus and the figures there have been quite significant. In June 2020 the Belarus finance ministry issued two sovereign eurobonds on the London Stock Exchange for a total of $1.25bn (£880m).

Source: The Guardian May 30, 2021 14:48 UTC