Nike checks full exit from its operations in Russia

Nike is making a full exit from Russia, three months after suspending its operations there, the US sportswear maker said in an emailed statement issued on Thursday.

Nike said on March 3 that it would temporarily suspend operations at all its Nike-owned and operated stores in Russia in response to Moscow’s actions in Ukraine, adding that those still open are operated by independent partners.

On Thursday, it joined other big Western brands, such as McDonald’s and Google, in confirming it will leave the country completely.

“Nike has made the decision to leave the Russian marketplace,” the company said in its statement.

“Our priority is to ensure we are fully supporting our employees while we responsibly scale down our operations over the coming months,” Russian media reported in May that Nike had not renewed agreements with its largest franchisee in Russia, Inventive Retail, which operates 37 Nike-branded stores in Russia through its subsidiary Up And Run.