Medvedev called for a move toward the mass seizure of Western companies' assets
Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federation Security Council, stated that it is not enough for Russia to have the assets of companies from so-called “unfriendly” countries transferred to temporary management. He proposed moving toward their compulsory expropriation into state ownership, citing the practice from the early years of Soviet rule.
Medvedev made the statement following Vladimir Putin’s decision to transfer the Russian assets of Switzerland’s Nestlé, France’s Auchan and FM Logistic, as well as “Lehman Pro” (formerly Leroy Merlin) to the management of JSC “L.E.V. Management.” Putin signed the corresponding decree on September 17.
“It makes sense to recall the first acts of Soviet rule, on the basis of which foreign plants and factories were forcibly and without compensation seized into state ownership,” Medvedev wrote.
He also accused Western countries of waging “open war” against Russia through their support of Ukraine and stated that he is outraged by the continued operations of European companies in the Russian market.
Russian authorities explained the transfer of the companies’ assets to temporary administration by citing their affiliation with countries that Moscow considers “unfriendly.” According to the Kremlin, these countries are allegedly actively involved in the war against Russia.
“L.E.V. Management” acquired 100% of the shares in the Russian legal entities Auchan, “Lemana Pro,” and Nestlé. The company was registered in 2024, with a registered capital of 15,000 rubles, and Andriy Krayushkin has served as its CEO since September 10, 2026.
Nestlé stated that it is evaluating its next steps and intends to defend its rights. Auchan, FM Logistic, and “Lemana Pro” reported that they have not yet received any official clarification regarding the Russian authorities’ decision.
At the same time, the transfer to temporary administration does not formally imply a transfer of ownership. However, Reuters notes that similar decisions have already been applied in Russia to other Western companies and, in some cases, have resulted in the sale of assets to Russian entities.
As a reminder, Le Pen criticized Putin’s decision regarding the assets of Nestlé and Auchan.
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