Two world tobacco companies are included in the list of war sponsors

The world’s two leading tobacco companies, Philip Morris International and Japan Tobacco International, are listed as international sponsors of the war. The companies continue to do business in the Russian Federation and support the country’s economy by paying large taxes to its budget, according to the National Anti-Corruption Agency.

It was noted that in Russia Philip Morris International is represented by two affiliated companies, as well as by the organization Philip Morris Sales and Marketing LLC which has branches in almost 100 cities of the country. Philip Morris International’s total investment in Russia exceeds $2 billion.

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According to the financial statements of the Russian division of Philip Morris, the company’s income in the first year of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation in Ukraine increased by 8% – up to 140.3 billion rubles, and net profit – up to 48.2 billion. rubles, which is 45% more than in 2021. Accordingly, the income tax to the budget of the aggressor country was paid in the amount of more than $136 million.

At the beginning of the war, Philip Morris announced its intention to sell its Russian business in order to preserve its reputation. However, all “attempts” to sell the business to the Russian Federation seem unsuccessful, and the corporation remains one of the largest taxpayers in the Russian budget.

The second company, Japan Tobacco International, is the leader of the tobacco market in Russia, with a market share of approximately 34.9%. It is one of the largest FMCG companies in the country in terms of sales.

JTI is the largest investor and leading taxpayer in the Russian tobacco industry. Over the past 20 years, JTI’s investments in the Russian economy have exceeded $4.6 billion. The company’s tax payments in 2020 provided 1.4% of the income of the federal budget of the Russian Federation.

Although JTI representatives said that JT Group has suspended new investments and marketing activities in Russia, the company continues to manufacture and distribute products in the Russian Federation.

It will be recalled that earlier the NACP included the world’s largest private alcohol company Bacardi Limited in the list of war sponsors.