// Lush stores to remain open in Russia but supplies to the country have been suspended
// The retailer cannot shut the 48 stores because they are led by a Russian licensee under a legal agreement
Lush has revealed that its stores in Russia are to remain open after the retailer said it is currently in a longstanding legal agreement with a Russian licensee.
Despite stores remaining open, Lush has suspended supplies into Russian stores and halted online sales in the country.
The company said its 48 stores in the country cannot be shut because they are led by a Russian licensee under the legal agreement.
READ MORE: Lush closes Ukraine stores as Russian invasion takes hold
The business also said its staff in the country share its “values of environmental protection, animal rights, social justice and peace”.
“Our Russian and Ukrainian businesses are associate companies, both 65% owned by a Russian citizen who had built the business over 20 years, employing over 600 staff who share the Lush values of environmental protection, animal rights, social justice and peace,” Lush said.
The business pledged to “stand with Ukraine and with all people of peace in the region”. It said the Russian citizen could not be identified for privacy reasons, and it is working to acquire the shares in the Ukraine business that it does not already own.
The news comes after Japanese retailer Uniqlo U-turned on an earlier decision to stay open and halted trading at its 50 stores in Russia.
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