Standing in line, not just for bread: an attack on IKEA branches in Russia
The Swedish furniture giant has joined other Western global brands and announced that it is suspending its operations in Russia until further notice and closing its branches.
Just before the doors closed, the Russians flocked to stock up
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07/03/2022
Monday, 07 March 2022, 08:23
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IKEA branches in Russia last week experienced a mass onslaught of buyers and huge queues, of Russian citizens hoping to stock up on attractive furniture and household products one last time, after the Swedish chain announced its suspension of operations in Russia due to the military invasion of Ukraine.
IKEA stores in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Omsk and Novosibirsk and several other locations across Russia closed over the weekend until further notice.
In addition, IKEA Global has announced that it is suspending its activities in Belarus as well, following the support of Lukashenko, the ruler of Belarus during Russia's military campaign in Ukraine.
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Long queues at the IKEA branch in St. Petersburg on the last day of its activity last weekend (Photo: AP)
In photos and videos taken at IKEA and Russia branches, shoppers are seen snatching from the shelves next door and emptying them and then standing in endless queues at the checkouts - just before they close, maybe forever.
"The war has already created enormous human damage and in addition it also disrupts the supply lines and trading conditions" - read the official announcement of IKEA Communications.
"For all these reasons, IKEA has decided to temporarily suspend its activities in Russia. The terrible war in Ukraine is a human tragedy, and our deep concern extends to the millions of citizens affected by it," the statement said.
IKEA officially calls the move a "temporary suspension" of operations in Russia and Belarus (Photo: AP)
IKEA is one of the largest Western employers in Russia, with 15,000 local employees.
Queue at IKEA branch in Russia (Photo: Reuters)
IKEA arrived in Russia in 2000, 9 years after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and has in the years since become one of the largest Western employers in the country.
The company also referred to the direct economic damage to IKEA employees in Russia and Belarus and wrote that: "These decisions have a direct impact on 15,000 employees and colleagues, and IKEA will work to ensure employment stability and provide them and their families with financial support."
The company announced that they have already made moves that will ensure the continued employment and livelihood of the company's employees in Russia in the near future and that in addition they intend to donate significant sums to humanitarian organizations, especially those assisting war refugees.
A € 20 million donation has been transferred from IKEA to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which mainly helps Ukrainian citizens who were forced to flee their homes and country following the Russian military invasion.
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