Despite heavy sanctions, the Russian economy is doing much better than expected in the West, and the lives of the country’s citizens have hardly changed, the observer wrote. Independent David McHugh.
He noted that there was no more unemployment in Russia and it did not acquire a mass character, the exchange rate did not fall, and the banks did not go bankrupt.
“The assortment in supermarkets has changed little, international brands are still available or their place is taken by local counterparts”he continued.
The author interviewed several Russians, and they said that little has changed during this time: people still go shopping, prices have slightly increased somewhere.
“We’ve had some of the worst times in history and we’ve managed”said one of the interviewees.
The publication pointed out that the business of some Western companies that left the country were acquired by domestic enterprises. So, it happened, in particular, with McDonald’s and Starbucks. Apple products are still sold at European prices, IKEA, Budweiser and Leffe products are sold by local manufacturers and retailers.
Other products and brands are also available. As the Independent noted, furniture and household goods left after the departure of the Swedish IKEA from Russia are being sold on the Yandex website, the labels on cans of Budweiser and Leffe beer sold in Moscow indicate that they were brewed by a local partner of the company that left the country. ABInBev, Polish-produced Coca-Cola is also available.
