44,000 People have supported a Class Action Against Dutch-Listed Prosus for its Subsidiary Fueling the War

July 4, 2022 Ukrainian Victims of War, a Dutch Foundation representing the interests of residents of Ukraine, has filed a lawsuit against Prosus, alleging its subsidiary Avito.ru in helping Russia recruit soldiers and officers and fuel its war against Ukraine. To support the case, the Foundation launched a petition on change.org that 44,000 signatories have already endorsed.

Ukrainian Victims of War, a Dutch Foundation established to represent the interests of residents of Ukraine, filed a lawsuit in the District Court of Amsterdam alleging Prosus in violation of its human rights policies. The hearing will take place on Thursday 7 July 2022 at 14:30. Its subsidiary Avito.ru, one of the most popular classifieds in Russia, was used to recruit soldiers and officers for the Russian army and police. They were recruited for local units all over Russia and then deployed to Ukraine.

Prosus admitted that there were job adverts for military vacancies on Avito.ru on March 22. And even captured Russian soldiers mention in their video interview that they had been recruited through Avito: YouTube video.

On May 20, 2022, Prosus publicly announced that they decided to exit the Russian business. They are looking for a buyer to acquire its shares of Avito.

The Foundation seeks guarantees that Avito will no longer be involved in recruiting people for war against Ukrainians now, in the future, and after its sale. The Foundation filed a lawsuit against Prosus and demands that if it happens, a €50mln fine should be imposed that will be increased by €5mln for each day during which the violation continues. The money should be transferred to a renowned charity fund for the benefit of Ukraine.

To support the lawsuit, the Ukrainian Victims of War Foundation launched a petition on change.org and collected more than 44 000 signatures, mostly from Ukrainians staying in Ukraine and those who moved abroad. Almost 600 signatories come from the Netherlands.

Jamal Statsenko, the Board member of the Ukrainian Victims of War foundation, a Kharkiv lawyer who moved to the Netherlands fleeing the war, says: “The case has become even more urgent now after reports have appeared in the press that Prosus is negotiating with VK and Russian oligarchs about a possible Avito sale. VK is the Russian equivalent of Facebook and allows military advertisements on its platform. This is what the Foundation wishes to prevent.

Examples of the ads with military and police vacancies

Petition supporting the class action with 44 000 signatories https://www.change.org/p/stop-russian-online-military-police-recruitment-on-avito-ru