Ukraine has included Bacardi Limited in the list of international sponsors of Vladimir Putin’s war, as the company from the Bermuda Islands continues to work in Russia, Ukrainian Pravda reports.

This was reported by the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NACP) in Kyiv, reminding that Bacardi Limited is the largest international alcohol company in the world, whose products are sold in more than 170 countries.

Among the company’s well-known brands are Baron Otard cognac, Bombay gin, Cazadores tequila; Gray Goose vodka, Eristoff, Dewar’s whiskey and other drinks such as Martini, St-Germain, Bénédictine.

In total, Bacardi owns more than 200 brands, including the company’s eponymous rum, which is the best-selling rum brand in the world.

ANPC recalls that after the war began last year, Bacardi announced it would stop exporting to Russia and invest in advertising in the country led by Vladimir Putin, but that part of the message later disappeared from its official statement condemning the invasion.

What Ukraine says about Bacardi

“It is noted that the company continued to supply millions of dollars worth of products to the Russian Federation and to look for new employees by posting job ads. In addition, the withdrawal of a number of international brands from the Russian alcohol market reduced competition and created opportunities for those that remained,” the press release of the Ukrainian agency noted.

ANPC also says Bacardi has benefited from reduced competition in Russia, with revenue at its Russian branch last year rising 8.5% to 32.6 billion rubles and net profit to 4.7 billion, up 206.5%. than in 2021.

“The income tax paid to the budget of the aggressor amounted to more than 12 million dollars,” the Ukrainian agency notes.

“Thus, Bacardi Limited continues to pay significant taxes to the Russian budget, support the Russian economy and sponsor aggression against Ukraine,” it concluded.

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