Ukraine recognizes Alibaba Group as sponsor of war
The National Agency on Corruption Prevention has included the Chinese group of companies Alibaba Group Holding Limited in the list of international war sponsors, according to the statement on the NACP website.
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The reason for the decision is the fact that the company continues to work in Russia. In particular, it provides its platforms for the sale of copper goods exported from the occupied territories of Ukraine. Alibaba also resorts to censoring Ukrainian content on its platforms.
The online commerce platform AliExpress, which is popular in the Russian Federation, is managed by Alibaba.KOM (RU) LLC, a Russian subsidiary of the Alibaba group. Its owner is Aliexpress Russia Holding Private Ltd., registered in Singapore.
As of 2023, the company continues to work in Russia, providing an international platform for the sale of foreign goods. The profit of Alibaba.KOM (RU) LLC for 2022 is 16.3 billion rubles (about $160 million).
In April 2023, it became known that the Chinese company Quzhou Nova imported copper-based ingot alloys manufactured in the Russian-occupied town of Debaltseve. The purchase was of at least 3,220 tons of copper alloy for the total amount of $7.4 million in the period from October 8, 2022 to March 24, 2023.
According to the customs, shipments of copper alloy from the plant were carried out through the port of Novorossiysk. From the copper exported from the occupied territories, the company produces goods that it sells on Alibaba platforms.
"It is worth noting that Alibaba also resorts to censoring Ukrainian content on its platforms related to the Russian war. In March 2022, Alibaba blocked the profile of a Ukrainian streamer who had more than 268,000 followers on AliExpress for a post about the war. At the same time, pro-Russian posts are not deleted on the platform," the NACP reported.
According to the agency, these facts may indicate that the company supports Russian aggression not only financially, paying taxes, but also ideologically.
On August 16, NACP sent letters to the heads of international companies from the list of war sponsors inviting them to visit Ukraine and see the consequences of Russian aggression with their own eyes.
The agency also proposes to discuss the withdrawal of these companies from Russia with their managers.
On June 23, 2023, the NACP added the Chinese car producer Geely to the list of international sponsors of war due to the fact that the company continues to pay taxes to the Russian budget and, accordingly, sponsors the war against Ukraine.
On August 7, five tanker companies from Greece were returned to the list.
On August 10, Ukraine recognized the Bacardi alcohol company as a sponsor of war.