M&S Slammed For Not Shutting Shop In Russia And Allegedly Funding Putin's War Against Ukraine

Marks & Spencer has been slammed for failing to close its stores in Russia. Ukrainian Member of Parliaments claimed on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is channeling all money made in the country into the invasion of Ukraine.

MP Maria Mezentseva said, "Everything contributed to the Russians is coming back with bloody bullets to innocent Ukrainian people." Fellow politician Alyona Shkrum added, "Every rouble they make goes just to the army and to the Russian soldiers killing kids in Ukraine. Putin is just spending it on his jets, on his rockets, on his shellings of our peaceful cities."

Alicia Kearns, who hosted four Ukrainian parliamentarians in the House of Commons on Thursday, also claimed that any profits generated would be tainted by the killings and war crimes committed during the conflict. The MPs met the United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson to urge him to leave no stone unturned in the military and humanitarian support he was giving Kyiv.

M&S has reportedly stopped supplying its Turkish franchisee's businesses in Russia, which has a total of 48 stores and 1,200 employees. However, the stores remain open and continue to sell their existing stock. According to the statement issued by M&S, it did not operate stores or have any employees in Russia and the franchise licensee held the rights to trade under the firm's banner in both Ukraine and Russia.

An M&S spokesperson added, "We suspended deliveries to our franchise licensee's Russian business two weeks ago and have no plans to reinstate them. We are actively discussing the future of the business with our franchise licensee."

A Labour MP and chair of the parliamentary group on Russia, Chris Bryant, told the Commons that other multinational companies are still doing business in Russia, including Subway and the tax advisory firm Baker Tilly. Meanwhile, Subway said it had no corporate operations in Russia and that its 450 franchised restaurants in the country were all independently owned and operated.

Meanwhile, Baker Tilly International said it would "separate member firms in Russia and Belarus from our global network" and not "serve government clients or state-owned enterprises of Russia or Belarus, or sanctioned entities and individuals."