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Polish Radio cuts ties with French retailer over its presence in Russia

22.03.2022 11:00
Public broadcaster Polish Radio has said it will stop running ads for French retailer Leroy Merlin, which continues to operate in Russia despite Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Polish Radios headquarters in Warsaw.
Polish Radio's headquarters in Warsaw.PAP/Wojciech Olkuśnik

The move to sever advertising ties with the French home improvement and gardening giant was announced on Polish Radio’s website late on Monday. 

In a statement, the Polish public broadcaster expressed its disapproval of Leroy Merlin’s decision “to continue, or even expand, its business operations on the Russian market, despite Russia’s brutal aggression against independent Ukraine and numerous crimes perpetrated by Russian troops on the Ukrainian people.”

Polish Radio said it would not maintain advertising links “with any company that conducts business in Russia, supporting Putin’s criminal regime.”

A Leroy Merlin store open for business in the town of Klimovsk near Moscow on Monday, March 21, 2022. A Leroy Merlin store open for business in the town of Klimovsk near Moscow on Monday, March 21, 2022. Photo: EPA/MAXIM SHIPENKOV

The online statement added: "Polish Radio’s decision is a symbolic one. It is meant to show that there are far more important things than profit and money."

Tuesday is day 27 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Poland on Tuesday reported it had taken in more than 2.14 million refugees fleeing Russia's attack on Ukraine.

(pm/gs)

Source: polskieradio.pl