AstraZeneca ‘funding Russia’s war chest’

Drugs giant AstraZeneca has been accused of funding Russia’s war chest and its invasion of Ukraine.

The company has maintained a presence in Russia since the invasion began in 2022, and is paying around $43 million a year in taxes, according to a report from the Kyiv School of Economics.  Overall, large Western conglomerates are paying $20 bn corporation tax every year to President Putin’s government.

Companies like AstraZeneca are “choosing profit over principle”, the report says and continue to pay corporation tax and “provide goods, services and technology” that help sustain Russia’s invasion.

AstraZeneca has been increasing its operations in Russia, and sales and taxes paid to the Russian government have risen sharply in the past year.

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