The Russian government has installed state-aligned executives to manage the local operations of several major Western firms, including Auchan, Lemana Pro, and FM Logistic. Following a presidential decree, these companies, alongside Nestlé Russia, have been placed under temporary state oversight. Ilya Berdnikov, Denis Isayev, and Yevgeny Nenashev have been appointed to lead these respective entities, often working alongside existing leadership to maintain daily functions. These seizures are managed by L.E.V. Management, an entity led by a former police official. Alexander Shokhin, head of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, characterized these moves as retaliatory measures intended to signal consequences to European nations considering the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. This shift in corporate control marks a significant escalation in the state's intervention regarding foreign businesses operating within the country.
Source : The Moscow Times
