In a memo, Koch President Dave Robertson informed employees that Guardian Glass, a subsidiary to the Wichita Kansas industrial conglomerate, is currently working with Russian managers “to find an exit strategy” which also ensures safety for their employees.
Robertson, also chief operating officer at Koch, stated that “Sanctions in April, together with the Russian government’s response and other actions have rendered it impossible for Guardian to continue operations” in the memo. It was posted on Thursday by the company’s website.
Guardian, one the largest glass producers in the world employs 600 people at its two Russian factories in Ryazan, Rostov. Robertson said that Guardian had asked Russian workers to close down their plants earlier in the month. Russian authorities repeated warnings that such actions could result in them being prosecuted and imprisoned.
The memo states that Koch is not only concerned about protecting workers but also wants Russia to stop seizing plants and “financially benefiting from” them.
Koch, America’s second largest privately-owned business with $115 billion annual revenue, was criticised for selling products to Russia and continuing to operate despite the nation’s attack on Ukrainian cities.
Robertson stated that all other Koch companies with Russian assets have or will cease business activities in Russia.
According to a count by Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Yale University professor, and his research team, more than 750 companies said that they are voluntarily curtailing Russia’s operations to a degree above the minimum legal requirement by international sanctions. However, others remain unaffected.
According To Popular Information, a left-leaning newsletter that Judd Legum runs, political groups supported Charles Koch, the right-wing billionaire and chairman of Koch Industries, are opposed to broad economic sanctions against Russia.
