“Apparently, job losses in Russia are more important than the loss of life in Ukraine. If Auchan ignores 139 Ukrainian children murdered during this month of Russian invasion, let us ignore Auchan and all their products,” he wrote on Twitter.
Earlier this week, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky called upon French companies, including Auchan and Leroy Merlin, to cease trading in Russia.
In Luxembourg, there have been calls across social media for boycotts of the popular French supermarket chain, which has flagship stores in Kirchberg and the Cloche d’Or shopping centre, as well as smaller outlets in service stations around the country.
Despite the backlash it has received online for continuing to operate in Russia, Auchan Luxembourg allied with the charity “Stëmm vun der Strooss” earlier this month to gather donations for Ukrainian refugees.
Kuleba called for a “boycott” of the retail group as well as French DIY retailer Leroy Merlin and sporting chain Decathlon, all of which operate under the Association Familiale Mulliez.
Auchan CEO Yves Claude this week defended the company’s decision to remain in Russia citing the need to keep staff employed.
“Leaving would be imaginable from an economic point of view, but not from a human point of view,” he told French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche.
According to its company website, Auchan has 41,000 employees and operates more than 300 stores in Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky used an address to France’s parliament last Wednesday to call on French companies still working in Russia to “stop sponsoring” aggression against his country.
He named in particular Auchan, Leroy Merlin and Renault. The car giant subsequently announced an immediate suspension of operations at its Moscow factory.
