// Paul Smith is closing its stores in Russia, almost a year after the country invaded Ukraine
// The retailer’s Russian operations are run by franchise partner oligarch Mikhail Kusnirovich
Paul Smith is set to close Russian operations after one year since the country invaded Ukraine.
The British retailer will now shut its shops in St Petersburg and Moscow’s Red Square.
This comes as a Daily Mail investigation found Paul Smith and two other British luxury labels were still operating in the country.
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The retailer’s stores and ecommerce in Russia are run through a franchise agreement with oligarch Mikhail Kusnirovich.
A Paul Smith spokesman told the Daily Mail: “The company does not trade directly with Russia, but, for two decades, we have had a franchise partner who operates stores in Russia.
“We now realise it was a mistake to allow these stores to continue trading in our name against the background of the war in Ukraine.
“We have requested that these stores are closed and we have now ceased all supplies to the distributor.”
Paul Smith is one of the last retailers to cut ties with Russia who pulled their operations last March is solidarity with the citizens of Ukraine.
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