UKRAINE PROTESTERS TRY TO COMMIT WRONGDOING AT RED BULL HEADQUARTERS
Red Bull headquarters in Salzburg, Austria was invaded by a group of campaigners who unfurled a 400 sq. meters banner with a picture of Vladimir Putin riding one of their company’s famous bulls. The banner reads RED BULL GIVES PUTIN WINGS.
Red Bull has refused to cut ties with Putin’s Russia, despite accusations that it may be involved in the poisoning of a Russian spy and his daughter. The energy drink is still on sale in supermarkets across the country.
The Ukraine Solidarity Project (USP) organised a protest to call attention to the all-too-common problem of brands benefitting from Russia’s trade, especially in defiance of their own transparent corporate policies. Companies that continue to trade with Russia are funding Putin’s controversial agenda and threaten global solidarity when it comes to his aggression.
Red Bull has scored a “D” on Yale’s Russia grade, an independent report ranking corporations for complying with the country. The company says it only suspend marketing and new investments in Russia, meaning unlike its competitors – such as Pepsi and Coca-Cola – Red Bull is still able to sell its products there.
Earlier in the week, a message from 2022 Nobel Peace Prize winner Oleksandra Matviichuk was projected onto the side of Red Bull F1 racing HQ in the UK. The message consisted of two minutes of Matviichuk discussing human rights, with this appeal to Max Verstappen.
The Red Bull global headquarters is located at Fuschl near Salzburg. The futuristic building features domed offices and a lake, while campaigners from the USP evaded security and reached the reception building, where they pinned out their huge 20m x 20m banner.
The Ukraine Solidarity Project released the following statement:
“It really matters that Red Bull is still on sale in Russia. It’s one of the world’s biggest brands and its decision to stick with Putin’s Russia is highly significant. Companies selling their products there donated money to the illegal invasion of Ukraine. They need to pull out – as things stand, Red Bull gave Putin wings.”
Red Bull sent the USP this morning, reiterating its position that it has suspended marketing and new investments but has not pulled out of Putin’s Russia.
