The participation of the German company Knauf in the reconstruction of Mariupol has angered the media and politicians in Germany. Bundestag deputy from the opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Roderich Kiesewetter criticised the management of one of the largest producers of building materials, ARD TV channel reported.
As follows from the results of the investigation conducted by the TV channel, a number of German companies are actively involved in the reconstruction of Mariupol. In particular, the media point to the use of construction materials supplied by the German manufacturer Knauf during the works. According to the official dealer of Knauf, the company’s products were used, among other things, for the construction of a residential building in Mariupol by order of the Russian Ministry of Defence.
The participation of German firms in the reconstruction of the Russian city has angered some members of the German public. As international law expert Viktor Winkler argued in a conversation with ARD, German manufacturers should “effectively stop any connections that allow them to profit at the expense of military action.”
CDU Bundestag deputy Roderich Kiesewetter also condemned the involvement of German companies in the reconstruction of Mariupol.
“(Such companies) are discussing a war that violates international law. This is especially evident in the case of Knauf,” the politician, known for his aggressive anti-Russian rhetoric, argued.
A Knauf spokesman denied in response to ARD’s enquiry the accusations of allegedly violating the sanctions regime. The manufacturer emphasized that the company produces products in Russia “exclusively for the Russian market”.
It should be noted that the president of Knauf, Nicholas Knauf, has been the honorary consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Russia for many years. In 2018, one of the leading German entrepreneurs called the sanctions imposed against Russia after 2014 “terrible”.
Despite pressure from official Berlin, the company did not suspend operations in Russia after the start of the SMO and increased trade restrictions.
According to ARD, in addition to Knauf, machinery and equipment manufacturer WKB-Systems, headquartered in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, is also involved in the reconstruction of Russia’s Mariupol.
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