ORIGINAL TEXT:
Ottawa, Canada (June 5, 2014) – A global campaign calling for consumers to boycott sponsors of FIFA’s
World Cup has now expanded to include Visa (NYSE:V), Kia Motors (OTN: KIMTF) and Sony (NYSE:SNE) .
United with Ukraine, the organization spearheading the campaign was formed to mobilize global
grassroots opposition to Vladimir Putin and Russia’s illegal annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula
and its orchestrating of violent terrorist activities across Eastern and Southern Ukraine. The 2018 World
Cup was awarded to Russia by FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association), the international
governing body of the sport of football.
“We have Presidents and Prime Ministers of Western nations looking for additional economic sanctions
to further punish and isolate Russia. And, we have this opportunity standing right in front of us to have
FIFA strip Russia of its 2018 World Cup hosting rights which is estimated to be worth $20 billion to that
country. I can think of more than 100 countries that would be far more deserving of that $20 billion
than Russia,” said Eugene Melnyk, Chairman of the Campaign Advisory Committee for United with
Ukraine. “Russia has illegally invaded a sovereign nation, broken international laws and is orchestrating
daily terrorist activities within Ukraine. I do not believe Anheuser Busch InBev, Visa, Kia and Sony are
companies that want to align or associate their brands with Vladimir Putin and Russia. These global
companies and their once loyal customers have an important principled choice to make.”
The international campaign launched last month, initially targeting Anheuser Busch InBev. The campaign
has a comprehensive website www.boycottputinnow.com which includes informative online videos to
help highlight the hypocrisy of FIFA and its major corporate sponsors. The videos are available on the
website in 12 different languages to help facilitate global awareness and to promote the hashtag
#boycottputinnow through social media.
Since its launch last month, the “Boycott Putin Now” campaign has received widespread media coverage
in Canada, Europe and the United States. A sampling of the media coverage can be found on the
campaign’s website.
FIFA’s voting for the 2018 (Russia) and 2022 (Qatar) World Cup hosting rights took place under the same
process and only involved FIFA’s 24 member Executive Committee. United with Ukraine firmly believes
this voting process was tainted with corruption. United with Ukraine is calling upon FIFA’s sponsors as
well as governments of all 209 FIFA member nations to revoke these hosting rights and initiate a new,
transparent selection process that includes human rights considerations as part of its voting protocol.
About United with Ukraine
United with Ukraine is an international human rights organization based in Ottawa, Canada focused on
ending the ongoing Russian military aggression against Ukraine and its illegal occupation of Crimea. The
organization is taking a number of steps to support the Ukrainian people as they work to restore
political and economic stability. Until Russia clearly demonstrates its respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty
and territorial integrity, United with Ukraine will continue to apply pressure that will further isolate
Russia economically, culturally and politically.
Contact Information
Paul Morozenko
pmorozenko@boycottputinnow.com
Anheuser‐ Busch InBev (Euronext: ABI; NYSE: BUD) www.boycottputinnow.com/inbev
#boycottputinnow/inbev
Kia Motors (OTN: KIMTF) www.boycottputinnow.com/kia #boycottputinnow/kia
Sony (NYSE: SNY) www.boycottputinnow.com/sony #boycottputinnow/sony
Visa (NYSE: V) www.boycottputinnow.com/visa #boycottputinnow/visa
