Do not buy Russian goods!

"Do not buy Russian goods!" (Ukrainian: «Не купуй російське!» [ne kupuy ros'iys'ke]) or "Boycott Russian goods!" (Ukrainian: «Бойкотуй російське!» [boykotuy ros'iys'ke]) is a nonviolent resistance campaign to boycott Russian commerce in Ukraine. The protest started on August 14, 2013 as a reaction to a Russian Federation trade embargo against Ukraine. It was organized by Vidsich on social media.[1] The campaign expanded to mass distribution of leaflets, posters, and stickers in over 45 cities and towns. Having faded by the beginning of the Euromaidan demonstrations in November 2013, it was renewed on March 2, 2014, during the Crimean crisis and the Russian military intervention in Ukraine.

Do not buy Russian goods!
Не купуй російське!
One of the images used in leaflets, stickers, and posters calling for a boycott of Russian goods.
PredecessorRemember about the Gas — Do not buy Russian goods!
Formation14 August 2013 (2013-08-14)
2 March 2014 (2014-03-02)
FounderVidsich
TypeCivic campaign
Location
SubsidiariesBoycott Russian Films
Websitevidsich.info

Causes
Activists urging boycott on August 22, 2013 in response to Russia's blockade of Ukrainian goods.
Main articles: Russian military intervention in Ukraine, Export blockade of Ukraine by Russia, and Russia–Ukraine gas disputes

According to activists, the campaign began as a response to a series of economic wars launched by Russia against Ukraine, including the "Meat War", the "Cheese War", and the "Chocolate War."[1] On August 14, 2013, the Federal Customs Service of Russia listed all Ukrainian exporters as companies "at risk", resulting in a blockade of Ukrainian products imported to Russia.[2] A backup developed at customs involving hundreds of truckloads and railcars of Ukrainian goods.[3]

Boycotts
Flash mob in a Kyiv supermarket on March 15, 2014
Activists display a banner urging a boycott of Russian gasoline on May 29, 2014
Boycott campaign stickers used to write "ПТН X̆ЛО" (abbreviation of "Putin khuilo!") in Brovary. June 22, 2014

In Ukraine

On August 22, 2013, activists held a protest near the Presidential Administration of Ukraine.[4][5][6] The campaign continued with a mass distribution of leaflets, posters and stickers in more than 45 cities and towns in Ukraine.[7][8] Caricatures of Russian Matryoshka dolls have been used in the campaign.[9] The campaign began to decline with the beginning of Euromaidan.

On March 2, 2014, activists used social networks to announce the renewal of the boycott on any goods and services that benefit Russian companies. The intention was to keep Ukrainian money from going to Russia where it may be used to support the Russian military.[10] The boycott was launched in response to the Crimean crisis and the Russian military intervention in Ukraine.[11][12]

In March 2014, activists began organizing flash mobs in supermarkets to urge customers not to buy Russian goods[13][14][15] and to boycott Russian gas stations,[16][17][18][19] banks,[20] and concerts.[21] In April 2014, some movie theaters in Kyiv, Lviv, and Odessa began shunning Russian films.[22]

In summer of 2014, activists in Kyiv began organizing flash mobs[23] and actions[24] in Russian restaurants and coffeehouses.

In the end of August 2014 activists have started a campaign "Boycott Russian Films" against Russian movies and serials on Ukrainian media space.[25][26]

By April 2014, some Russian manufacturers changed their barcodes from Russian to Ukrainian.[27] Titled Boycott Invaders, an Android app was developed to identify products from Russia, including those disguising their origin.[9][10][28]

International spread

Beginning in March 2014, the boycott spread to Poland and Lithuania.[29]

Results

Sales of Russian goods in Ukraine decreased by 35-50% in the spring of 2014.[30][31] In May 2014, Ukrainian supermarkets began to abandon the procurement of Russian goods. Delivery of goods from Russia fell by a third.[32]

In April 2014 it was reported that producers from Russian Federation are changing Russian barcodes with barcodes of other countries.[33] Moreover, there are revealed facts of illegal masking of Russian products in some Ukrainian supermarkets.[34][35][36]

From January to May 2014, according to Standard & Poor's ratings, banks with Russian capital in Ukraine lost more than 50% of deposits.[37]

According to comparison test of Russian TV series watching ratings in Ukraine for 2013 (sample by GfK) and for 2014 (sample by Nielsen), total ratings dropped by a third.[38]

As of mid of May 2014 it is known that Ukrainian supermarkets have started to massively abandon purchases of Russian goods. Supply amounts from Russian Federation decreased by a third.[39]

Public opinion

According to "Taylor Nelson Sofres" (TNS) Internet research in Ukraine, in March–April 2014 — 52% of Ukrainians are positive or "rather positive" about the boycott of Russian products. According to the survey, 39% of Ukrainians are involved in the boycott.[40] Further survey campaign revealed that from July to August 2014, support for the boycott increased from 52% to 57%, and participation in the boycott increased from 40% to 46% of the population.[41] According to data reported by TSN, in September 2014, 50% of Ukrainians had joined the boycott.[42]

Criticism

The idea of a boycott was supported by Fozzy Group, a Ukrainian group of companies that owns and manages retail stores, but was not supported by Ukrainian representative offices of "Auchan Ukraine" and "Metro Cash and Carry" retail groups. The reason was explained as a part of their apolitical vision.[43]

Andriy Dlihach, "Advanter Group" CEO, urged not to ban Russian products and to concentrate on buying Ukrainian ones instead.[44]

Ukrainian and Russian-speaking blogger Danylo Vakhovskyi said that he is consciously using Russian internet services and will continue to do so, because it is a way to support "the creation of a favorable environment for entrepreneurship" in Russia. Vakhovskyi admitted that such usage was "not patriotic", but still considered his support of entrepreneurs as providing opportunities to change the world for the better.[45]

See also

References
  1. У соцмережах українців закликають бойкотувати російські товари [Boycott of Russian goods]. The Ukrainian Week (in Ukrainian). 15 August 2013.
  2. Danilova, Maria (15 August 2013). "Russia accused of trade war against Ukraine". Associated Press.
  3. Росія оголосила Україні торговельну війну [Russian declares economic war against Ukraine]. Hromadske.TV (in Ukrainian). 15 August 2013. Archived from the original on 21 August 2013.
  4. Януковича закликали не вважати Росію дружньою державою [Yanukovych]. Radio Liberty (in Ukrainian). 22 August 2013.
  5. "Активісти оголосили бойкот товарам з РФ (video)" [Activists announce boycott of goods from Russian Federation]. 5 Kanal (in Ukrainian). 22 August 2013.
  6. "На Банковій "відкривали очі на «братство" Росії (video)" [Opening eyes to Russia's "brotherliness"]. Ukrayinska Pravda (in Ukrainian). 22 August 2013.
  7. Украинцев призывают отказаться от российских товаров [Ukrainians urged to boycott Russian goods]. Podrobnosti. Inter (in Russian). 12 September 2013.
  8. "В Україні триває вулична агітація проти російських валянок і матрьошок (video)" [Campaign against Russian goods in Ukraine] (in Ukrainian). maidanua.org. 26 September 2013.
  9. Back, Alexandra (26 July 2014). "Ukraine in campaign to boycott Russian goods, restaurants, sex". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  10. Hryshko, Lilia (4 April 2014). "Бойкот окупантів": Як українці ігнорують російські товари [Boycott of occupiers: How Ukrainians are snubbing Russian goods]. Deutsche Welle (in Ukrainian).
  11. Бойкотуємо товари і бізнес окупантів! Не купуємо нічого російського! (in Ukrainian). Дамо відсіч зазіханням Росії на Україну. 02.03.2014
  12. Українці захищаються від росіян бойкотом їх товарів on YouTube (in Ukrainian). ТСН. 1+1. 6.03.2014
  13. "Флешмоби "Російське вбиває" набирають обертів (video)" [Flash mob]. Vidsich (in Ukrainian). 24 March 2014.
  14. "Сьогодні у Чернівцях російські товари "вбивали" активістів – флешмоб у "Сільпо" та на заправці "Лукойл" (photo)" [Flash mob]. chv.tv (in Ukrainian). 10 April 2014.
  15. У Сумах також оголосили бойкот російським товарам [Boycott of Russian goods announced in Sumy]. Lviv Gazeta (in Ukrainian). 23 March 2014.
  16. Как в Днепропетровске прошло бойкотирование российских заправок [Boycott of Russian gas]. 34 kanal (in Russian). 1 May 2014.
  17. Активісти закликали не купувати російський бензин [Activists urge people not to buy Russian gas]. Radio Liberty (in Ukrainian). 17 April 2014.
  18. Українці починають бойкотувати російські АЗС [Ukrainians begin to boycott Russian gas]. The Ukrainian Week (in Ukrainian). 25 April 2014.
  19. Место убийства - российская АЗС [Russian gas]. ПІК (in Russian). 16 May 2014.
  20. У Києві біля офісів російських банків українців закликають "не платити окупантам" [Campaign in Kyiv: "Don't pay occupiers"]. The Ukrainian Week (in Ukrainian). 24 April 2014.
  21. Українці оголосили російським артистам бойкот [Ukrainians announce boycott of Russian artists]. ТСН. 1+1 (in Ukrainian). 3 June 2014.
  22. Некоторые кинотеатры Киева, Львова и Одессы объявили бойкот российской кинопродукции (in Russian). ЦензорНЕТ. 11.04.2014
  23. «Российское убивает»: в Киеве в российских кафе и ресторанах люди падают «замертво». ФОТОрепортаж (in Russian). ЦензорНЕТ. 25.07.2014
  24. У Києві пікетували «російські» ресторани (in Ukrainian). Radio Liberty. 24.06.2014
  25. «Не пустимо в хату російську вату» — театралізована акція під Держкіно (in Ukrainian). Radio Liberty. 04.09.2014
  26. У Києві відбулася акція протесту проти російського кіно (in Ukrainian). УНН. 04.09.2014
  27. Російська окупація українських товарів: як кокошник відрізнити від дівочого вінка (відео) [Russian occupation of Ukrainian goods]. Fakty. ICTV (in Ukrainian). 9 April 2014.
  28. "Ukraine-Russie : le boycott 2.0". L'informaticien (in French). 3 April 2014.
  29. "As leaders dither, citizens impose own sanctions on Russia". Reuters. 4 March 2014.
  30. Російські виробники маскують штрих-коди на своїх товарах, щоб надурити українців [Russian goods]. ТСН. 1+1 (in Ukrainian). 26 March 2014.
  31. У середньому, продаж товарів з РФ впав на 35-50% [Import of goods from Russian Federation falls by 35-50%]. Ukraine Online (in Ukrainian). 18 May 2014. Archived from the original on 20 May 2014.
  32. Бойкот российских товаров дал результат: поставки РФ упали на треть [Boycott of Russian goods has had an effect: Imports from Russia fall by a third]. facenews.ua (in Russian). 14 May 2014.
  33. Російська окупація українських товарів: як кокошник відрізнити від дівочого вінка (відео) (in Ukrainian). Fakty. ICTV. 09.04.2014
  34. В тернопільському «Новусі» дурять людей — російські товари маскують (фото) (in Ukrainian). Doba. 09.04.2014
  35. Хто допомагає росіянам залазити в українські кишені? (in Ukrainian). «Hroshi» (1+1). Season 2014. Serie 15. 05.05.2014.
  36. Економічний бойкот змушує калушан переглядати свої смаки (in Ukrainian). Vikna. 19.05.2014
  37. Російські банки втратили більше 50% вкладів в Україні [Russian banks lose over 50% of deposits in Ukraine]. Ukrayinska Pravda (in Ukrainian). 14 July 2014.
  38. Російські серіали: економічна зброя уповільненої дії (in Ukrainian). Forbes. 13.05.2014
  39. Бойкот российских товаров дал результат: поставки РФ упали на треть (in Russian). facenews. 14.05.2014
  40. Понад третина українців бойкотують російські товари (in Ukrainian). Ukrayinska Pravda. 15.05.2014
  41. Опитування: серед українців зростає підтримка АТО і бойкоту російських товарів (in Ukrainian). Ukrayinska Pravda. 18.08.2014
  42. Вже пів року українці бойкотують російські товари (in Ukrainian). TSN. 1+1. 20.09.2014
  43. «Ашан» та «Метро» не підтримали бойкот російських товарів (in Ukrainian). zaxid.net. 24.04.2014
  44. Бойкот російських товарів: за і проти. Forbes. 01.04.2014
  45. Почему я не поддерживаю бойкот российских товаров и сервисов (in Russian). ain. 12.03.2014
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