“Moral collapse”, “spineless” and a gift for Putin. Several Swedish politicians are calling for a boycott of Absolut vodka after the owner Pernod Ricard started exporting to Russia again. “Ashamed! Stop buying Absolut Vodka!”, writes the Sweden Democrats member of parliament Björn Söder on Twitter. He is supported by Gustaf Göthberg, Member of Parliament for the Moderates, who says that he would have gladly given up Absolut vodka if he had drunk it. “Unprecedentedly spineless,” he calls the decision. It was at the beginning of April that the website Just Drinks reported that Absolut vodka’s owner Pernod Ricard is reopening exports to Russia. Exports and imports have been stopped for more than a year. “Protect employees” The explanation for the resumption of sales is, according to Paula Eriksson, communications manager at Absolut Company, that one must “protect local employees and secure the local organization’s financial sustainability.” EU parliamentarian Karin Karlsbro (L) calls the decision “a nice present for Putin”. Kristoffer Tamsons, opposition councilor for the Moderates in Stockholm, also writes on Twitter about the boycott: “Freedom to demand that you give up this drink.” Ygeman: “Absolutely Putin” Liberal MP Gulan Avci calls Pernod Ricard’s decision “incredibly immoral” at a time when Ukraine is literally fighting for its freedom and the democracy of all of Europe. Joar Forssell, member of parliament on parental leave for the Liberals, agrees: “It is insane that any trade with Russia is allowed at all,” he writes. And party colleague and Member of Parliament Anna Starbrink points to a “moral collapse” at Pernod Ricard: “There is nothing sustainable in doing business with the war criminals in Russia.” Anders Ygeman, Member of Parliament for the Social Democrats, writes briefly: “Absolutely Putin”.
t4-general
Politicians’ anger: “Absolutely Putin”
