Rusal calls for investigation into Bucha ‘crime’
Rusal chairman Bernard Zonneveld said in a statement that recent reports of atrocities in the city, which was occupied by Russian troops for a month until the end of March, had shocked the company.
“We believe this crime needs to be fully investigated,” he said. “We support an objective and impartial investigation into this crime and call for severe punishment for the perpetrators.”
Zonneveld’s statement did not specify who might be responsible for the atrocities, but went on to say that “incidents like this make this terrible tragedy all the more traumatic.”
“We all want a speedy end to this fratricidal conflict, which is destroying lives, families and entire cities. And we want those responsible for such crimes to be appropriately punished,” the statement said.
Russia has denied any involvement in the incident, claiming – without evidence – that the atrocities in Bucha were staged and part of a “planned media campaign”. Witnesses who spoke to CNN said the carnage in the city began weeks ago when it was occupied by Russian forces.
Zonneveld, a Dutch citizen, said Rusal was calling for a quick peaceful resolution to this conflict “to preserve priceless human lives and return to normalcy”.
The metallurgical company operates on five continents and was responsible for 6% of global aluminum production in 2019, according to its website.
Its founder, Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska said last week on the Telegram messaging app that the war was “madness” and could have already been resolved through negotiations.