Accusation against plaster manufacturer
Knauf denies export to Mariupol
April 5, 2024, 6:44 p.m
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A media report suggests that the German company Knauf is involved in the reconstruction of Russian-occupied Mariupol. The family business now denies the allegations and points to numerous intermediaries.
According to its own information, the Franconian plaster manufacturer Knauf has no longer delivered goods to Russia since February 2022 and no longer imports anything from Russia. The company announced that Knauf does not deliver any building materials from the EU to the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Mariupol. The ARD magazine “Monitor” reported that reporters had discovered the name Knauf on plaster bags in Mariupol.
An authorized Knauf dealer advertises that he has built a residential building project on behalf of the Russian Ministry of Defense using Knauf building materials. According to “Monitor,” CDU member of the Bundestag Roderich Kiesewetter criticized Knauf and other companies for “cementing Russian power” there.
Sanctions law expert Viktor Winkler told the “Mainpost” that he had not yet seen “any violation of the applicable sanctions by Knauf” and was therefore “expressly warning against a witch hunt”. Winkler wrote on the Internet portal Constitutionblog.de that the outrage over the deals was understandable, but the general astonishment at the gaping sanctions gap was not: the EU’s sanctions policy was a “patchwork quilt” and the standards and plan were not recognizable.
Wood was immediately sanctioned, “diamonds are only now an extremely important source of income for Russia, imports of steel are prohibited, exports are not,” and there is chaos when it comes to gas, oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG). “The examples could be extended endlessly,” said Winkler. Knauf operates a factory near Kiev and 14 production facilities with 4,000 employees in Russia.
Knauf: Are not a builder
The family company condemned the war of aggression against Ukraine and stated that it was complying with all sanctions imposed by the EU, Great Britain and the USA against Russia: “We strongly reject the accusation of not doing so,” it said in the statement. Knauf produces building materials, but is not involved in construction projects as a builder or investor.
Knauf does not have any direct supply contracts with consumers or processors of Knauf products in Russia, it continues. “Our products reach end customers there through many different retailers that are independent of Knauf. We have no influence on how and where end customers use our products.”
A spokeswoman for the Federal Ministry of Economics said: “The responsible investigative authorities must now clarify very quickly what the exact facts are.” These are the customs criminal investigation office and the public prosecutor’s offices. A Foreign Office spokesman said the reconstruction in Mariupol was serving Russia’s propaganda. Anyone who takes part in this must ask themselves whose service they are putting themselves in.