Following the statements on Friday by the head of Ukrainian diplomacy against Auchan, the food distribution chain "categorically denies" the accusations in a press release. On Friday, Dmytro Kouleba accused the group of becoming a "full-fledged weapon of Russian aggression" after the publication of a journalistic investigation accusing the French food retailer of contributing to Moscow's war effort. .
“Auchan has turned into a full-fledged weapon of Russian aggression. I intend to discuss it with my French counterpart (Catherine Colonna)," said Dmytro Kouleba on Twitter, who had already called for a boycott of the group last year for not withdrawing from Russia after the start of the invasion.
Last year, I urged the world to boycott Auchan for failing to withdraw from Russia and stop funding war crimes. However, the reality seems to be far worse: Auchan has evolved into a full-fledged weapon of Russian aggression. I intend to discuss this with my French counterpart. https://t.co/5Gp607HKPs
The Auchan Retail group therefore reacted and "categorically denies the facts related by this investigation and their interpretation". These allegations "are in no way corroborated by the reality of (our) internal research which confirms strict compliance with the regulations in force", Auchan Retail takes offense.
The latter "reaffirms therefore that its stores that have remained open in Russia are to allow the Russian population (as is the case elsewhere in Ukraine for the Ukrainian population) to feed themselves and that they do not provide any voluntary aid and active in any supply of categories of consumers other than the Russian civilian population", he further justified.
According to an investigation published by the French newspaper Le Monde in collaboration with the investigative site The Insider and the NGO Bellingcat, a collection of products intended for the Russian army, worth a total of 2 million rubles (about 25 000 euros), was organized within the local Auchan subsidiary in Russia. She cites an anonymous source who said that this load would have been offered by Auchan.
Auchan's management had already reacted on Friday, saying it was "very surprised" by this investigation and stressing that "the only elements provided date from March 2022", a few weeks after the outbreak of the conflict, and that, in this case, " the people who placed orders were regular people who had already placed orders with us”. "We do not voluntarily and actively fund or participate in any fundraising for Russian forces," the group added.
Auchan's Ukrainian branch posted a message on Facebook saying it was "shocked" by the allegations and contacted French management for clarification.
For its part, "Auchan Ukraine has provided assistance to Ukrainians for more than 60 million hryvnias", or 1.5 million euros, since the start of the war, the subsidiary said in a message to AFP.
