Aicinājums apple vadībai aizliegt jaunu produktu tirdzniecību Krievijā,kamēr tā slepkavo Ukrainā.

To the Board of Directors and Executive Leadership of Apple Inc.

Regarding Apple's Responsibilities Under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, OECD Guidelines, ESG Commitments, and Human Rights Due Diligence Standards in the Context of Russia's War Against Ukraine.

Dear Members of the Board and Executive Leadership,

Given that the latest Apple products continue to be sold and promoted in Russia, including at public events in Moscow, I am addressing you as a European Union citizen and human rights advocate regarding the bloody war waged by the Russian Federation against Ukraine—a conflict that continues to claim civilian lives, destroy critical infrastructure, and involve gross violations of international law.

This letter is not based solely on moral or political considerations. It is also grounded in internationally recognized standards of corporate responsibility.

Under the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), companies have a responsibility to respect human rights regardless of whether the states in which they operate fulfill their own human rights obligations.

These principles require businesses to:

• prevent adverse impacts on human rights;

• mitigate risks associated with their operations, products, and services;

• use their leverage to reduce the risk of human rights abuses within their business relationships, supply chains, and markets.

In situations of armed conflict, these responsibilities become particularly significant.

Likewise, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises call upon companies to conduct enhanced due diligence in circumstances involving severe human rights risks, including those arising in situations of war, occupation, and large-scale armed conflict.

Russia's bloody war against Ukraine is not an ordinary case of geopolitical instability.

It is a prolonged act of military aggression that has been condemned by numerous states, international organizations, and institutions.

Under such circumstances, corporate neutrality alone cannot be regarded as a sufficient response to the expectations of human rights due diligence.

Apple has already taken several important steps to restrict its activities in Russia.

However, the practical reality remains that Apple devices continue to reach the Russian market through parallel import channels.

Russian businesses continue to benefit from the commercial appeal of the Apple brand.

The Apple ecosystem continues to generate economic and social value within the Russian market.

Accordingly, legitimate questions arise as to whether the measures currently in place fully satisfy the level of due diligence that investors, human rights experts, and civil society reasonably expect from a global technology company.

This question is particularly important in light of Apple's publicly stated commitments relating to ESG principles, including social responsibility, ethical governance, and respect for human rights.

If a company publicly commits itself to the protection of human rights, those commitments must also be reflected in situations where human lives continue to be lost on a daily basis as a result of armed conflict.

For these reasons, I respectfully urge Apple to:

1. Conduct and publish a comprehensive assessment of the impact of Apple products and services within the Russian market during the ongoing armed conflict.

2. Evaluate all technically feasible and legally permissible measures that could further reduce the value and attractiveness of the Apple ecosystem within the Russian Federation.

3. Consider additional restrictions on digital services, ecosystem functionality, and other non-essential features available within Russia.

4. Strengthen efforts to prevent the circumvention of existing restrictions through intermediaries and third-country channels.

5. Provide shareholders, customers, and the public with greater transparency regarding human rights risk assessments and mitigation measures relating to Russia.

Apple is one of the most influential technology companies in the world.

As a result, Apple's influence extends far beyond simple compliance with sanctions regimes.

International standards of corporate responsibility envisage not merely passive compliance with applicable law but also active efforts to use corporate leverage to support the protection of human rights and the principles of international law.

As long as the war in Ukraine continues and civilians continue to lose their lives as a consequence of Russian aggression, Apple has both the opportunity and the responsibility to examine whether all available and proportionate measures have been fully utilized.

History will judge not only governments and political leaders, but also major global corporations, by the choices they made when human lives, freedom, and the international legal order were under threat.

I therefore respectfully call upon Apple to undertake a renewed and comprehensive review of all lawful, proportionate, and technically feasible measures that could further reduce the benefits derived from Apple products and services within the Russian Federation for as long as Russia's aggression against Ukraine continues.

The people of Ukraine deserve not only expressions of solidarity, but also sustained and meaningful action from all actors capable of exerting influence.

Thank you for your consideration.

Yours sincerely,

Board Member, NGO ProBonoPublico.Latvia

Kristina Blumberga

Latvia, European Union