Avast PLC (LSE:AVST) suspended all its operations in Russia and Belarus, the company confirmed in a statement today.
As part of the suspension, it has withdrawn the availability of all its products and suspended marketing and sales operations.
The cybersecurity company said it is working to “protect and sustain” its employees in Ukraine and Russia.
According to the statement, in Ukraine it is “maintaining and bolstering its product offerings, giving paying users an extension on their licenses for free,” with users of Avast freemium products able to premium products for free.
The Prague-headquartered company, which is in the process of being taken over by US rival NortonLifeLock, said it is “critically important” to support Ukrainians’ access to secure and unrestricted internet with “disinformation rife.”
It added that it is donating US$800,000 to humanitarian organisations through its employee donation program and philanthropic arm, the Avast Foundation.
Avast is “working with local charities on the ground to address skills-based volunteering opportunities and help Ukrainian organizations avoid cyber threats or recover from a cyberattack.”
Ukraine, Russia and Belarus collectively contributed around 1.5% of Avast's annual revenue in 2021.