According to the politician, companies financing the Armed Forces of Ukraine should not have the right to take part in government procurement
State Duma deputy Vitaly Milonov proposed creating a special label “unfriendly company” and “unfriendly brand”. In this way, the politician proposes to celebrate foreign companies that finance the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but at the same time continue their activities in Russia. He has already sent the document corresponding to the legislative initiative for consideration to the relevant committee, RT reports.
According to RT journalists who managed to familiarize themselves with the document, the initiative also implies a ban on the participation of unfriendly foreign companies in competitions for the purchase of goods and services within the framework of the public procurement system.
The justification for Milonov’s legislative initiative states that some companies from states unfriendly to Russia provide financial support to Ukraine, including its armed forces. At the same time, companies directly declare this in the media and on their online resources. In the document, Milonov provides a list of foreign corporations that have declared material support for Kyiv and the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Among them, in particular, AkzoNobel, Mars, Avon, Tikkurila and Pepsi. Mars GmbH alone allocated about $12 million to support Kyiv, the deputy said.
Milonov proposes to introduce the concept of “unfriendly companies” into domestic legislation. and “unfriendly brands”, and also instruct the Federal Service for Financial Monitoring to maintain the “List of Unfriendly Companies”, and the Federal Antimonopoly Service — «List of unfriendly brands.»
In addition, RT writes, the legislative initiative contains a provision on mandatory labeling of products from “unfriendly companies,” which should include the text “Attention! The manufacturer of this product is part of a group of individuals sponsoring terrorism,” and the message itself, according to the parliamentarian’s proposal, should take up at least 50% of the area of the product packaging or marketing material about the product and the company.
Another legislative amendment, according to Milonov, should be a ban on “unfriendly companies,” as well as individuals selling goods under “unfriendly brands,” participating in government procurement of goods, works, and services.
In a conversation with RT the deputy confirmed the promotion of such an initiative and emphasized that profit-making by foreign companies in Russia and financing of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are unacceptable.
«Reports published by a number of foreign companies making money in Russia indicate that they help financially the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Ukraine. The same company Tikkurila proudly announces that it has sent a quarter of a million euros to help the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It turns out that they sell paint to Russia, and give the profits to those who kill Russians. Labeling and a ban on participation in government procurement are logical,” — the deputy is quoted by the media.
Milonov emphasized that he has already transferred the legislative initiative to the relevant committee and, after elaboration, plans to officially submit it to the State Duma.
Recall that earlier Russian President Vladimir Putin signed Decree “On a special procedure for compensation of damage caused to the Russian Federation and the Central Bank of the Russian Federation in connection with unfriendly actions of the United States,” which allowed the use of American assets if the United States confiscates Moscow’s blocked reserves.