"No help of the Russian Armed Forces was": "Auchan" reacted to Bellingcat investigation
"Auchan Retail categorically denies the statements made in this investigation and their interpretation. Auchan Retail is very surprised by these accusations, which are in no way confirmed by the reality of internal investigation," the company said. The document also states that the supermarket network only "assistance" to the civilian population of Russia, and no charity fees were organized for the benefit of the army.
The Auchan Retail was curled that in March 2022, the City Hall of the city of St. Peterbug made an order for "assistance to the population", but in the list of goods there were no ones that could be intended for military Russian military. In addition, the company denies the placement of "humanitarian aid for Donbass".
The company also stated that in Samara, the owner of the Kosmoport shopping center on his sole initiative created a collection point in the shopping center, but not in the Auchan supermarket. "Auchan teams did not provide any help or have the opportunity to interfere with this initiative," the message said. Recall that investigators from Bellingcat, The Insider and Le Monde stated that "Auchan" supplied goods of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and helped mobilize their employees.
The management of the company, as they say in the investigation, collecting and transmitting data on its employees. The subordinates were issued to the workplaces and offered to be released so as not to be called to the army. Focus also wrote that in April 2022, the Auchan Retail International Trade network declared partial suspension of work in the Russian Federation. Against the backdrop of criticism, the company decided to stop supply and stop investments in Russia.