Photo/Illutration The Uniqlo logo of Fast Retailing Co. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Only days after saying it was business as usual in Russia, Fast Retailing Co. announced on March 10 that it will temporarily suspend operations at all its 50 Uniqlo outlets in the country.

The company, which operates the global casual clothing chain, had an apparent change of heart as public outrage against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine continued.

Fast Retailing released a statement that said, “We condemn all forms of aggression that violate human rights and threaten the peaceful existence of individuals.”

In an interview with a business newspaper published March 7, Tadashi Yanai, the company chairman and president, indicated that Fast Retailing would continue doing business in Russia since Russians also have a right to buy clothing for their daily lives.

But criticism directed at Yanai’s statement as well as a 4-percent drop in the company's stock price over three days led Fast Retailing to announce that it was suspending operations in Russia.

Although the company's statement also said, “Uniqlo has made everyday clothing available to the general public in Russia,” it added, “We have recently faced a number of difficulties, including operational challenges and the worsening of the conflict situation. For this reason, we will temporarily suspend our operations.”

Company officials said the suspension would begin after a preparatory period of between seven to 10 days. Online sales in Russia will also be suspended for an indefinite period.

Fast Retailing began its Russian operations in 2010 and its outlet in Moscow that opened in December is its largest in Europe. The 50 outlets in Russia represent about 40 percent of Fast Retailing’s network in Europe.

European clothing companies, such as Sweden’s H&M and Spain’s Inditex, which operates about 500 Zara outlets in Russia, earlier announced they were stopping operations in Russia.

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