Yesterday, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper signed a new Executive Order to impose state sanctions on Russia in response to their invasion of Ukraine. E.O. 251 specifically orders all state agencies to immediately review existing contracts with Russian Entities, and to “refrain from entering into new contracts with Russian Entities”.
“The invasion of Ukraine is an attack on a free people. This order sends a strong message and helps ensure no public dollars or operations from North Carolina will benefit Russia and its unjustified aggression,” noted Cooper. “Our state stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine as they fight courageously against a tyrant to defend their country, their democracy and their freedom.”
The new executive order includes, but isn’t limited to:
- Alcohol Sales: The North Carolina ABC Commission is directed to review its list of approved products for any produced by Russian Entities and to suspend the approval of such products as quickly as practicable.
- Purchase & Contract: The Department of Administration, Division of Purchase & Contract, is directed to terminate any such contracts with Russian entities as quickly as practicable if they are identified.
3 major Russian alcohol brands – Hammer & Sickle, Beluga, and Russian Standard – would be the most significantly affected companies subject to the Order.
Read the complete Executive Order here.