Dear Mr Kaeser, dear Mr Bruch, dear members of the Managing Board and Supervisory Board, dear shareholders,
My name is Vladimir Slivyak, I work for the Russian non-governmental organization Ecodefense, which has been campaigning for safe energy and climate protection for the last 35 years. Because of this work, Ecodefense was falsely accused and persecuted by the Russian Government. In 2022, the European Court on Human Rights ruled that the Russian Government violated our rights (see “Ecodefense and others v Russia” 9988/13). Unfortunately, my colleagues and I had to leave Russia in order to avoid going to prison.
It’s nearly three years since Russia started unprovoked and bloody war in Ukraine which turned to be the largest war in European history since the second world war. According to the latest available data, it’s over 1 million of people have been killed or wounded in this war, and it’s not over yet. There is only one way to stop this war and that will happen when Russia would not have enough resources to continue it. And that means that economic cooperation with Russian dictatorship must be stopped by democratic countries entirely.
Three years ago Siemens Energy said it will stop doing business in Russia following many European companies who didn’t want to supply Moscow with money for war. My colleagues and I were very glad to hear it. But then it turned to be only part of truth because Siemens Energy is still involved on a few contracts with Russian nuclear industry.
As part of the war, Russia is attacking and occupying nuclear power plants in Ukraine. That creates nuclear safety and security risks not only inside of Ukraine but for entire Europe. I’m sure you’re well aware about it since Siemens Energy is still continuing cooperation with a few nuclear companies including Russians.
Your partners include Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom. This is not some business company staying away from the war in Ukraine. It’s the state arm directly involved in supplying the Russian army. Rosatom sent its personnel to operate the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine. Moreover, this Russian state corporation offered to procure key goods needed by the Russian army, potentially bypassing existing sanctions. Finally, the Putin regime in Moscow regularly threatens to use nuclear weapons against Western countries, and this weapon is produced by Rosatom. The board which governs Rosatom in Russia consist of governmental officials and secret service officers sanctioned by many countries for their involvement in war.
As far as I understand, Siemens Energy continue economic cooperation with Russian regime through supplying various equipment to Russian nuclear industry. That cooperation allows the Russian regime to spread its political influence in Europe and around the world through building nuclear reactors and supplying fuel and services for it. Russian political regime pays to Siemens Energy very well for its involvement in these supplies. But one thing you should get very clear – money coming from Russia is bloody money. And by supplying your great technologies to Rosatom you work to weaken European security and strengthen European dependence on Russian supplies. And by that I mean for example that Siemens Energy is still involved in the project of Hungarian nuclear plant Paks-2 under construction by Rosatom. If built, this plant will require nuclear fuel supplies by Russia for nearly a century ahead. Being dependent today on Russian political regime which started bloody war at the doorstep of European Union sounds like a nightmare, isn’t it?
I call on Siemens Energy to re-assess your current policy of cooperation with Russian nuclear industry, whether on contracts in Europe or other parts of the world. All cooperation with Rosatom must be stopped immediately, and I deeply hope that next year this is what you will tell me at 2026 shareholder’s meeting.
I also wanted to ask a few questions:
1) How many nuclear plants built or under construction by Rosatom – in Russia or other countries – may be supplied in the future with Siemens Energy equipment? For how many there are contracts signed?
2) Did Siemens Energy after all delivered any equipment for the Akkuyu nuclear plant in Turkey. If so, what exactly was delivered and for what type of equipment was a governmental export permit granted?
3) Does Siemens have more contracts with Rosatom or its suppliers for Akkuyu units, and for what kind of work exactly?
4) Will Siemens Energy supply the instrumentation and control systems for Paks-2 nuclear power plant in Hungary? Is there an export permit from German government already granted for this deal?
4) Are there any limits for exports and cooperation with Rosatom, or condition in place for the export of nuclear-safety and nuclear-security related equipment?
5) Is there any contract related to the construction of Russian nuclear plant El Dabaa in Egypt?
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your attention!
