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.
Western pharmaceutical companies spend up to $500 million annually on bribes in Russia, according to an investigation by Proekt. Senior executives of international pharmaceutical firms operating in Russia stated that these bribes are spent on intermediaries, suppliers, and hospital staff. Although drug companies offer bonuses for large purchases in other markets, in Russia, 30% of government purchases are often paid as bonuses, sometimes exceeding 60% in large tenders.
These funds are used to bribe chief physicians, officials, and security personnel involved in the procurement process. Consequently, the state's final drug cost remains unchanged. Prominent figures connected to the Russian government, such as Dmitry Bortnikov (nephew of the FSB head) and Alexey Repik (owner of R-Pharm), have benefited from these bonuses.
The investigation found that in 2025, foreign pharmaceutical companies supplied the Russian state with cancer drugs worth 52.8 billion rubles, of which at least 10% ($475 million) is attributed to bribery. If corruption were eliminated, drug prices could decrease by 15-25%. Several complaints were filed with the U.S. Justice Department regarding corruption in Russian drug tenders, but investigations were halted upon Trump's return to the White House.
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