One of the advantages of being an independent consultant is the freedom to accept or turn down a collaboration offer. These recent years have definitely been hard times, with entire peoples being subject to oppression and genocidal attempts by the hand of a few criminal governments. This is the reason why I have chosen not to make business with companies which are based in countries ruled by leaders that have an arrest warrant for war crimes issued by the International Criminal Court.
Specifically, in solidarity with the Ukrainian and Palestinian peoples, I have made the decision not to work for Russian or Israeli companies. Even though I have no prejudicial hostility towards people from these countries (as a matter of fact, I have quite a few dear friends and former colleagues from Russia), I cannot allow myself to help provide their governments, directly or indirectly through my consulting activity, with additional resources they would use to keep committing war crimes against innocent people. I have already turned down offers from potential clients based in these countries and I will keep on doing it until their criminal government leaders will be in power.
I know this is not the kind of statement you commonly find on a consultant website, and I’m aware how such a position will (and already has) decrease my customer pool, however I have always prioritized my ethical values over profit.
Marcello