Tech giant Atlassian slammed for ongoing ties to Russia as it wages war on Ukraine

Angry demonstrators have accused a major tech company of having blood on its hands as it continues to operate in Russia.

Ukrainian protesters rally against Atlassian for continuing to trade in Russia. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Angry pro-Ukraine demonstrators have gathered outside the Atlassian headquarters in Sydney’s CBD to protest the company’s continuing business in Russia.

The protesters stood outside the George St building holding signs demanding the tech giant cut all ties with Russian businesses as the country wages a brutal war on Ukraine.

“Atlassian! Your company thrives as Ukrainians die!!! Pull out of terrorist Russia,” one sign read.

“Blood on your hands? Stop siding with evil Russia Atlassian,” another handmade sign said.

Ukrainian protesters gathered on Tuesday to rally against Atlassian for continuing to trade in Russia. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Another sign asked why the company was still trading in Russia when “everyone knows Russia is committing war crimes”.

A banner held aloft by two protesters proclaimed a simple and powerful message: “Atlassian supports terrorism”.

One irate protester chose instead to take aim at one of the billionaire founders of the tech giant, Mike Cannon-Brookes.

“Cannon-Brookes: To be rather than to seem to be,” his sign said in an apparent stab at the founder’s continued attempts to be moral and ethical.

A sign questions whether Atlassian has blood on its hands. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

One protester directly criticised Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

It’s the second time in a month that protesters have gathered on the doorstep of the billion-dollar tech company to accuse the company of contributing to the war on Ukraine.

Demonstrations have continued sporadically since Atlassian announced it would continue to operate in Russia on a small scale.

After condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Atlassian’s co-founders Scott Farquhar and Mr Cannon-Brookes said they would pause the sale of all new software in Russia.

The co-founders, worth $50bn combined, announced they would also suspend existing licences owned by the Russian government or business that support the war through cyber warfare, combat or disinformation.

Protesters call for Australians to boycott the Australian software company. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Yet an Atlassian spokeswoman told NCA NewsWire the company would continue to support Russian businesses without ties to the war.

“We continue our commitment to our existing non-sanctioned and approved non-governmental customers in Russia, as we recognise that many of them are caught up in a war that they neither chose nor have the ability to stop,” she said.

“We continue to prohibit all new sales.”

The spokeswoman said the company had committed to donating revenue generated from customers in Russia and Belarus, beginning with a $5m donation to causes that directly support Ukrainians.

Critics have accused Atlassian co-founders Mike Cannon-Brookes (left) and Scott Farquhar (right) of being slow to withdraw from Russia.

“To date, we have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars in humanitarian aid to Ukraine through the Atlassian Foundation and through employee giving programs,” she said.

“At the direct request of the Ukrainian government, we have donated licences of Atlassian software to aid their humanitarian and relief efforts.”

The spokeswoman said Atlassian continued to use technology and its vast resources “to serve as a force for good”.

Originally published as Tech giant Atlassian slammed for ongoing ties to Russia as it wages war on Ukraine