Marks & Spencer has halted shipments to its Russian business run by franchisees
(Picture: PA Wire)Ukrainian MPs have called on Marks & Spencer to shut its Russian shops saying “every ruble” spent in the stores helps fuel Vladimir Putin’s war machine.
The retailer has about 48 stores still open in Russia, which have not been closed because of complex legal arrangements with local franchise owners.
Ukrainian MPs Lesia Vasylenko, Alona Shkrum, Maria Mezentseva and Olena Khomenko are meeting with Boris Johnson on Thursday afternoon and said they will ask him to pile pressure on the British and French brands still operating in the country.
Ms Shkrum said: “Marks & Spencer hasn’t left Russia. It is very important to put Putin in isolation and for him to know he will not be getting a handshake from the world, he will not be getting a handshake from business, there will be no support for him because he has killed children in Ukraine.
“We will ask Boris Johnson to put pressure on the French companies which are here and have not left [Russia].
“Every ruble they make right now goes just to the army and Russian soldiers killing Ukrainian kids. Putin is not spending it on any other necessities. He is just spending it on his army, on his jets, on his rockets on shelling Ukrainian cities and right now more civilians have died in Ukrainian than military.”
Marks & Spencer, along with other western brands Burger King, and hotel groups Marriott and Accor, say they are restricted by franchise deals that prevent them from withdrawing.
M&S stores in Russia are operated by Turkish company FiBA, which holds the rights to use the brand name and sell its products.
The British company has stopped supplying products to the stores in response to the war, but says it is unable to impose full closures without legal consequences.
M&S told the BBC it was “absolutely committed” to the humanitarian cause in Ukraine and has pledged more than £1.5million to support refugees.
The retailer is among those that have joined a consortium that have said they will provide Ukrainians coming to the UK with jobs.
The Evening Standard has contacted M&S for further comment.
