Alexei Zhuravlev, the First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee and a leading figure in the Fatherland party, has proposed a bold labeling approach for goods from countries deemed hostile to Russia. The suggestion is to mark such products with the inscription “Manufactured by the enemy of Russia.”
The deputy pointed to the fact that several Western companies, which publicly announced their withdrawal from the Russian market, continue to sell their products in Russia through various channels. He argued that these products should carry the warning in capital letters and in the most prominent location, so shoppers understand that their purchases could directly fund adversaries. The aim, he said, is to ensure buyers are aware of the potential consequence of their money flowing toward the enemy.
According to Zhuravlev, many of those who left Russia in a dramatic fashion are now quietly reentering under new brands or under altered names, often in partnership with manufacturers from allied or friendly states. He contended that these backdoor returns pose a risk to the market and to overall economic transparency.
He warned that ignoring such expansion would be imprudent. While these companies publicly criticize Russia, they continue to profit from the country. The situation, in his view, is incoherent and needs clear visibility for consumers and regulators alike.
Last December, the Russian government set targets that require a minimum share of certain goods to come from non-hostile countries, signaling a broader push toward diversification in imports and supply chains. This policy move reflects a wider strategy to reevaluate the makeup of consumer goods available domestically and to increase visibility around origins and affiliations of products in the market.