Continues to develop its business in the Russian Federation and sympathizes with terrorists: Metro Cash & Carry is included in the list of international sponsors of war

28.02.2023

The National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) included the Metro Cash & Carry company in the list of international sponsors of war. This decision was made due to the position of the company's management to continue operations in Russia. In addition to retail business, the interests of the company's management are closely related to the strategic sectors of the Russian economy: the oil, gas and banking sectors. And this directly affects the support of the Russian military machine. Thus, according to the results of journalistic investigations, it became known that the key shareholder of Metro Cash & Carry, Daniel Kretynski, controls EP Infrastructure (EPIF), which owns 49% of Eustream. This company operates a gas transportation system that transports Russian gas to Central and Eastern Europe. While the entire civilized world refuses the energy resources of the terrorist-state, the management of Metro Cash & Carry demonstrates that cooperation with the Russian Federation will not only not be stopped, but will only intensify in the future. This is evidenced by the recognition of Metro Cash & Carry as acceptable payment by "Mir" cards (project of "Sberbank") and the implementation of new projects in Russia, such as the chain of grocery stores "close to home" - "Fasol". Researchers of the activities of Metro Cash & Carry in the Russian Federation also draw attention to the company's participation in "ideological" Russian initiatives. In particular, at the end of last year, information was spread on the Internet that the German METRO chain was selling "Wagner's sledgehammers" in Russia. This is the same "attribute" of mercenaries from the terrorist PMC «Wagner», which gained conditional popularity in the Russian Federation after the publication of brutal videos about the alleged execution of PMC fighters who returned from Ukrainian captivity. Obviously, in this way, the management of the trade network demonstrates maximum loyalty to the regime of the aggressor country. In addition, this "souvenir" was used by Russian propaganda as a symbol of mockery of the civilized world in the person of the European Parliament, to which the instrument was sent after the adoption of the resolution recognizing the Russian Federation as a state sponsor of terrorism. Why is it important to list "international sponsors of war"? The goal of rehab NACP is to make any companies ashamed of cooperating with the terrorist state of the Russian Federation and close their business in Russia. The institute of reputation now plays a key role in the world of international corporations. All companies listed as international war sponsors are listed in the World-Check database, a database of high-risk individuals and organizations used worldwide to identify and manage financial, regulatory and reputational risks. Adding to this database, created by the international company London Stock Exchange Group, should help protect the financial sector from Russian war sponsors. The NACP has already included following companies in the list of international war sponsors: Procter&Gamble, OpenWay Group, Danieli, TMS Tankers Ltd., Minerva Marine Inc., Thenamaris Ships Management, Delta Tankers Ltd., Dynacom Tankers Management Ltd., Leroy Merlin, ComNav Technology, Mondi Group/Mondi PLC, eKassir, Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry and Bonduelle. A few days ago, the French corporation Auchan Holding was also added to the list . The role of the NACP in sanctions policy is defined in the Individual Sanctions Roadmap developed by the Stanford International Working Group on Russian Sanctions.