Western pharmaceutical companies spend up to $500 million a year on bribes in Russia — with Putin’s allies cashing in, Proekt investigation finds

Western pharmaceutical companies spend up to $500 million a year on bribes in Russia — with Putin’s allies cashing in, Proekt investigation finds

Foreign pharmaceutical companies that supply cancer treatment drugs to Russia spend about $500 million a year on “bonuses” for intermediaries, suppliers, and staff at Russian hospitals, according to an investigation by Proekt, a Russian investigative outlet. The investigation is based on the testimony of a senior executive at an international pharmaceutical company operating in the Russian market.