The press service of the Estonian Ministry of Defense reported that goods from manufacturers that continue to operate in Russia will be withdrawn from retail outlets on the territory of the Defense Forces and other places belonging to the department.
This initiative is aimed at stopping the financing of the Russian military machine. The decision applies to the producers listed by the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NAPC) as international sponsors of war, including tobacco giant Philip Morris International. From now on, products of such companies as PepsiCo, Mars, Nestle, Unilever and Mondelēz International will not be sold in the outlets owned by the Ministry of Defense. This applies to chocolate, cookies, chips, ice cream, gum, and soft drinks. Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur noted that many Western companies have ceased operations in Russia, but there are those that continue to support the Russian economy and, consequently, its military machine. In addition, the distribution of products by Philip Morris International and Japan Tobacco International (JTI) was suspended.
Pevkur emphasizes that for most goods, there are alternatives to domestic producers, and the main purpose of the decision is to uphold the big principles, not to eliminate small inconveniences that may arise from such measures.