Moscow announced that the Russian subsidiaries of Nestlé, French retailer Auchan and former Russian arm of French DIY chain Leroy Merlin will be placed under forced administration. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov said the measure targets firms from "unfriendly countries" that, in the Kremlin's view, have supported Ukraine's military actions against Russia.
Peskov added that these states are "as active as possible" in military operations against Russia and have participated in attacks on Russian civilian and economic infrastructure. The decision follows President Vladimir Putin's televised address on the state of the nation at the end of February 2024, in which he highlighted the need to counter foreign entities linked to hostile governments.
The forced administration means Russian authorities will assume control over the local businesses, restricting their ability to operate independently. The move affects Nestlé's food‑processing activities in Russia and mirrors similar actions taken against other European companies deemed to be from hostile jurisdictions.
No details on the duration or financial impact of the administration were provided. The Kremlin did not specify whether additional firms would be subject to the same measures.
