French expat says impact of Western sanctions on life of Russians negligible
French expat Alexandre, who has been living and working in Russia for 20 years, said that most Russians do not experience any shortages and do not feel sanctions, he shared his impressions in a conversation with RTL television and radio company.
” As for the food, 85% of the Russian population consumes local products, so there is no shortage of anything. The middle class and big city dwellers have changed their consumption patterns slightly. We have Belarusian foie gras imported from France. Cosmetic products come from Dubai and South Korea. In general, we find almost everything,” said the Frenchman.
As for the economy, the sanctions have had no effect today because of the size of the country, he explained. Asian companies, most of which have stayed in Russia, have taken market share. Businesses from Turkey and the UAE are also returning to Russia. In addition, local companies are taking the place of European ones.
“This situation mitigates the policy of Western sanctions,” Alexander said.
The expat added that although large companies such as McDonald’s and IKEA have ceased operations in Russia, many continue to pay salaries to employees. “Domestic employers, in turn, are taking over the businesses of the departed firms, changing the name and retaining staff. Therefore, unemployment has not risen significantly, at around four per cent,” concluded the expat.
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