human rights

Ukraine’s monopolist poultry producer, MHP, has received more than half a billion euros in loans from the EBRD and other public banks including the European Investment Bank, the International Finance Corporation and export credit agencies like Atradius.

These massive investments have not brought the company’s performance and culture in line with the relevant EU and EBRD standards. Rural communities in Cherkasy, Vinnytsya and the Dnipropetrovsk regions say that if the company continues with ‘business as usual’ they will face more violence and suppression of their opinions.

Ukrainian company Myronivsky Hliboproduct PJSC (MHP) is a long-term client of both the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation. MHP development has faced local opposition in a number of communities. Activists leading the opposition to MHP operations seem to have been framed for drug-related offences and/or beaten. Information on the incidents listed below is available in the public domain, however, they show only the tip of the iceberg.

While the EBRD is currently considering loans for the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and TANAP, both part of the Southern Gas Corridor, the bank should asses the reputational and financial risks of involvement in the project.

The EBRD replied to the letter on April 19. Download their response as pdf >>