L.E.V. Management, the company granted temporary control over the Russian assets of Auchan and Lemana PRO (formerly Leroy Merlin), has requested the executives of the companies to maintain their store chains and staff as they are.
In a letter to Auchan, cited by RBC, the CEO of L.E.V. Management, Andrei Krayushkin, stated that the operations of purchasing, deliveries, store operations, and fulfilling obligations to customers, suppliers, and employees must continue without any interruptions. The letter emphasized that the stable operations of Auchan LLC are directly linked to food security.
Krayushkin also assured to implement measures to protect Auchan’s properties from possible attacks, including drone attacks. The letter mentioned that any decisions regarding staffing, if necessary, will be discussed in advance with the current management of Auchan LLC.
Auchan’s Russian press office expressed readiness to maintain a good working relationship with the temporary manager and promptly address any emerging issues. The press office confirmed that all of the company’s facilities are functioning normally.
On September 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law placing the Russian assets of Auchan, Nestle, Lemana PRO, and FM Logistic, a French logistics operator working with these companies, under the temporary control of L.E.V. Management.
Further investigation revealed that L.E.V. Management was registered in October 2024 with a registered capital of 15,000 rubles. Krayushkin, the company’s leader, holds the rank of Major General in Russia’s Interior Ministry and previously served as the first deputy head of its migration directorate from 2016 to at least 2020.
The Kremlin justified the decision by labeling these companies as originating from unfriendly countries actively engaged in military operations against Russia.
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