Dutch brewing company Heineken has sold its business in Russia for one euro, ditching its iconic beer brand there. The company said that their departure will result in a 300 million euro loss in sales, and that their buyer Arnest will absorb Heineken's 1,800 workers for the next three years. Heineken joins a growing list of companies closing up shop in war criminal Vladimir Putin's Russia. From BBC's report:
"'Recent developments demonstrate the significant challenges faced by large manufacturing companies in exiting Russia,' Mr van den Brink said.
Last month, President Vladimir Putin seized Russian assets owned by Carlsberg and French yoghurt-maker Danone.
Earlier this week, the franchise owner of Domino's Pizza signalled it would shut its Russian shops and put the business into bankruptcy.
DP Eurasia said it would no longer try to sell the operation because of an 'increasingly challenging environment'.
Russia has been targeted by a number of economic sanctions since its tanks rolled into Ukraine on 24 February 2022.
Many household names decided to close their operations in the immediate aftermath of the invasion. Others, such as McDonald's and Coca-Cola, faced pressure to exit Russia."
Unfortunately, many companies have remained in Russia, despite sanctions on the country and its international image as an aggressive, expansionist pariah. Despite the potential hit on their bottom line, these companies need to get out or continue to face the fact that the taxes they pay to Russia are buying weapons to kill innocent people in Ukraine.
