Atlassian - Australia for Ukraine!

The war in Ukraine and russian terrorism/fascism

On 24 February 2022, russia started a major escalation in its horrific war in Ukraine. The war began in 2014 with russia’s annexation of Crimea, and invasion of Donetsk and Luhansk. Five months ago, russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, killing not just Ukrainian soldiers but women, children and elderly. Russia has committed to genocide of Ukrainians attacking 17,000 civilian targets – compared to 300 military targets. A video shown by President Zelensky to US Congress highlights the scale of russian atrocities – https://youtu.be/SFe-108zQSI.

Over the past five months, the largest country in Europe has seen over 2,500 missiles launched at its cities, destroying 45 million sqm of housing, 600+ hospitals, and killing 358 children.

As the russian military were forced to retreat from Kyiv and its surrounding cities, the world saw horrifying images from Bucha, Irpin and Borodyanka. While before Bucha many believed Putin was solely responsible for the war, after Bucha it is clear that russian society is infected with neo-fascist ‘ruscism’. Those horrific atrocities were not committed by Vladimir Putin, but by ‘ordinary’ russian citizens, over 70% of whom support the war according to the latest opinion poll.

International support for Ukraine – Declarations and Sanctions

Over 50 countries have united against russian aggression to help Ukraine, including Australia. The atrocities committed by russia have resulted in formal declarations of russian actions as genocide and russia as a terrorist state. Examples below:

The U.S. Senaterecognised russia as a state sponsor of terrorism in a unanimous vote: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/27/world/europe/the-us-senate-passes-a-resolution-seeking-to-label-russia-as-a-sponsor-of-terrorism.html.
Lituania declared russia as a terrorist state and russian actions in Ukraine as genocide: https://www.npr.org/2022/05/10/1097911440/lithuania-russia-terrorism-genocide-ukraine.
Canada officially declared russian actions in Ukraine as genocide: https://www.npr.org/2022/04/28/1095272683/canada-russia-genocide-ukraine and is working on recogning russia as a terrorist state.
Parliaments of Latvia and Estonia declared russian actions in Ukraine as genocide: https://thehill.com/policy/international/3304150-parliaments-of-latvia-estonia-declare-russia-has-committed-genocide-in-ukraine/

The US, US, New Zealand, EU and Australia, among others, have implemented harsh economic sanctions against russia. Many leading companies have ceased operating in russia. We call on Atlassian, an iconic Australian company, to also stop operating in russia immediately. Atlassian continuing to operate in russia is in total conflict with Australia’s policy supporting Ukraine with sanctions against russia and millions of dollars in lethal weapons and aid.

What is Atlassian’s position on the war in Ukraine?

Atlassian’s Public Pledge

In February 2022, Atlassian’s initial response to russia’s assault on Ukraine was a statement condemning the war, promising:

Donations to assist Ukraine, and
Ceasing all new paid contracts for Atlassian’s products and services in russia.

However, donations were not forthcoming and no steps were made by Atlassian until our team contacted them on 23 June 2022 – 4 months into the war. Atlassian continues to receive payment for most of its existing contracts in russia and allows their renewal.

Following our contact, Atlassian then made a public pledge to:

Donate the equivalent value of its future revenue from sales in russia and belarus;
starting with $5 million to causes providing direct relief to the people of Ukraine. (https://www.smh.com.au/technology/atlassian-to-donate-russian-revenue-as-ukrainian-protestors-demand-full-boycott-20220712-p5b0zv.html)

Requests by our group for a meeting, and calls to cease operating in russia were ignored.

Atlassian’s current worth is $52.3 billion. Atlassian pledged to make the $5 million donation on the 4th of July. As of 30th of July we haven’t heard any news about this donation being made.

Company Internal Announcement and Company Values

It has come to our knowledge that on 2 July 2022 Atlassian made an internal announcement that they “spoke with the Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia to explore ways Atlassian can provide additional support”. The Ukrainian Ambassador has however confirmed that he had no contact with Atlassian before 2 July 2022. He was contacted by Atlassian much later.

Atlassian’s decision to continue operating in russia is claimed to be aligned with its company values. However, Atlassian seems to have forgotten its own values.

Lying to their employees about meetings with the Ukrainian Ambassador is in direct violation of “Open company, no bullshit” and “Play, as a team” values.
Funding terrorism and war, through paying taxes in russia does not align with “Build with heart and balance” and “Be the change you seek”.

Atlassian is a company that praises itself as an “open company, no bullshit”. However, since establishing contact with Atlassian’s management, we have witnessed quite the opposite. After the introduction of russia’s new war economy measures every one of Atlassian’s customers can now be forced by the russian government to be complicit in killing Ukrainians and perpetrating war crimes. Under these laws the entire russian economy is now, de facto, working towards one goal – the genocide of Ukrainians. Despite this, Atlassian consciously chooses to continue supporting russian customers, over 70% of whom support this war.

Why is it crucial that Atalassian stops operating in russia?

Atlassian has made headline-grabbing public statements in support of Ukraine and pledged large donations. Words and donations do not, however, stop war, mass killings, the rape of children, mutilation and torture. For every Ukrainian that Atlassian helps with their donations, the russian terrorist regime, will murder another thousand – with the help of Atlassian’s resources.

Every war is not only a military battle of soldiers and weapons, but also a battle of economies. Invoking hardship and crushing the russian economy will ensure the end of the war. Atlassian is strongly positioned to do just that and would put significant pressure on the russian IT sector if it withdraws from russia.

Achieving the best case scenario for Ukraine & for russia

The best-case scenario of ending the war is for russians to overthrow their fascist government – as recently happened in Sri Lanka. This is the best scenario for both russians and Ukrainians. The sooner it happens, the fewer lives will be lost on both sides and the lower the economic cost generations of russians will have to pay.

This scenario will not materialise until russian citizens start to feel substantial discomfort in their lives. Not until they start feeling and seeing wide scale economic devastation, will they realise that this war brought them no benefit. For this to happen, all western businesses must exit russia. Every ounce of discomfort for russians, every dollar of lost revenue to russia – matters.

By continuing to operate in russia Atlassian stands in the way of achieving this best case scenario and prolongs the war. Most Australian companies have entirely withdrawn from russia. We call on Atlassian to do the same.

Leaving russia is not a decision that threatens Atlassian’s survival. For Ukraine (and the world), winning this war is a matter of survival.

We call on Atlassian to:

Immediately completely withdraw from russia and belarus;
honor its pledges – donation of $5 million and, further, equivalent revenue from russian and belarusian customers since 24th February 2022
to be a company of which all Australians can be truly proud.

Media About Atlassian Operating in russia

Here is the statement from the NSW president of Svoboda Alliance (an Australian anti-war russian organisation) who condemns Atlassian’s decision to continue operating in russia and provides additional arguments contrary to Atlassian’s public statement:

SvobodaAlliance_LetterToAtlassian Download