Investigations Against OMV Employees Dropped

As spokeswoman Nina Bussek confirmed to the APA, the suspicion of involvement in war crimes in Sudan between 1998 and 2003 has not been "substantiated." The human rights organization CEHRI has, however, filed a continuation request, which the Vienna Regional Criminal Court now has to decide on.

The start of oil production in Sudan triggered a spiral of violence, with several international oil companies continuing their activities despite being aware of human rights violations, the accusation stated. CEHRI therefore filed a criminal complaint last year. "The managing directors of OMV AG are accused of being involved in war crimes in Sudan between 1998 and 2003, particularly in the systematic killing of civilians and the destruction of essential goods," it was said at the time.

Trial in Sweden

OMV was part of the Lundin consortium from 1998. In 2003, they exited and sold their shares. The consortium is accused of complicity in systematic war crimes. In Sweden, two top executives of the consortium have been on trial since 2023 for allegedly supporting the Sudanese military for economic reasons, despite being aware of their war crimes, as reported by "profil." When OMV withdrew from Sudan two decades ago, according to CEHRI and the Dutch NGO Pax, 12,000 people had died, many more were injured, forcibly displaced, or enslaved. The Sudanese military also used child soldiers, according to the NGOs, all with the knowledge of the oil companies.

No "Offense" Established for the Accused

At that time, there was no "war crimes" offense, so individual actions had to be examined, Bussek explained to the APA. However, the accusation was not substantiated, which is why the investigations were closed in the summer. However, it is not over for the 16 accused: Victims from Sudan, which has been ravaged by civil war for two years, have filed a continuation request together with CEHRI and Pax, which the Regional Court for Criminal Matters now has to decide on.

(APA/Red)

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