German television channel ZDF investigates business relations between European companies and Belarus
- 20 hours ago
- 1 min read
German television has aired the documentary “Belarus – Geschäfte mit einer Diktatur?” (“Belarus – Doing Business with a Dictatorship?”), examining how European companies continue to do business with Belarus, directly or indirectly, despite the EU’s sanctions policy.
The investigation for ZDF, available on the ARTE platform, examined supply chains and possible schemes for circumventing sanctions. It covers furniture and wood-processing products, the telecommunications business, chemicals, microchips and goods linked to the defence industry.
The filmmakers trace these links in Germany, Austria and Poland. In particular, the journalists investigate whether furniture and wood products from Belarus may still be reaching the European market despite the import ban, and examine supply chains involving chemicals and microchips that could potentially be relevant to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The filmmakers show how complex supply chains, intermediaries and international routes make the effective enforcement of sanctions more difficult. The investigation goes beyond the question of formal legal compliance and raises a broader question about the boundaries between law, corporate responsibility, human rights and profit.
The film also examines the consequences of repression in Belarus. Former political prisoners, including trade union activists, speak about their experiences.
Comments