Putin Consolidates at Home: Nationalization, Election, and Ovechkin's Endorsement

As Russia holds its first parliamentary election since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin is tightening his grip on both the economy and the political narrative. On 17 September, the day before voting began, Putin signed a decree nationalizing the Russian assets of French retailer Auchan, Swiss food giant Nestlé, and the former Leroy Merlin chain — companies that had remained in Russia despite the war. Meanwhile, NHL star Alexander Ovechkin defended his appearance in a United Russia campaign ad, framing his support as a matter of patriotic duty. These moves, taken together, signal that the Kremlin is reinforcing control over foreign business and domestic loyalty as the election unfolds from 18 to 20 September.

Nationalization of Foreign Assets

Putin's decree, published on Russia's official legal information portal and reported by the state agency Interfax, transfers the assets of Auchan, Nestlé, and the logistics operators FM Logistics and Bati Logistics to a Moscow-based shell company called L.E.V. Management. The entity, registered only in October 2024, has disclosed no ultimate beneficial owners and has never conducted commercial activity, according to Russian company registers cited by Ukrainska Pravda. The same shell company also took control of LLC Le Monlid, the former Leroy Merlin chain Source: Ukrainska Pravda.

The expropriation marks a sharp escalation against companies that, despite Western sanctions and public pressure, continued operating in Russia after February 2022. Nestlé, for example, has run six production sites in Russia since 1994 and reported combined revenue of nearly 30 billion roubles ($355 million) in 2021; its subsequent financial data has been kept confidential. Auchan currently operates 230 stores in 100 Russian cities. By seizing these assets, the Kremlin effectively penalizes firms that stayed and contributed to the Russian budget — a move that also deters any remaining multinationals from holding out hope of normal operations.

Election Without Opposition

The nationalization came just before the first parliamentary elections since the war began. United Russia, the party backed by Putin, has dominated the Duma for over two decades. Al Jazeera correspondent Dmitry Medvedenko, reporting from Moscow, noted that the key question is whether any other parties can pose a serious challenge Source: Al Jazeera. In reality, Russia's political system allows only carefully managed opposition — parties like the Communist Party or the Liberal Democratic Party — which rarely threaten United Russia's majority. With war censorship and the jailing of prominent critics, the election is largely a formality designed to project stability.

Ovechkin's Patriotic Defense

One of the most visible endorsements of the election came from Alexander Ovechkin, the all-time leading NHL goal scorer and captain of the Washington Capitals. In a video released by United Russia, Ovechkin stands behind Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, lending his celebrity to the campaign. At the Capitals' media day on 17 September, Ovechkin told reporters: “I’m Russian, and I support my country. … I’m for peace and love, and I hope in the world it doesn’t matter who you are; I hope everybody understands, everybody wants peace” Source: Al Jazeera. He added that he intends to live in Russia after his hockey career ends.

Ovechkin has long cultivated ties with Putin: in 2017 he launched a pro-Putin public movement, and his Instagram profile picture is a photo with the president. When war broke out in 2022, he called for peace but said Putin “is my president.” His latest statement, while domestic in focus, again underscores the difficulty for Russian athletes in navigating international careers while publicly supporting a regime at war.

Why It Matters

For Ukraine and its allies, these events demonstrate that Putin is not facing internal political cracks. The nationalization removes any ambiguity for Western companies still present: remaining in Russia now means risking outright theft. The election, while preordained, serves as a propaganda tool to show unity. Ovechkin’s endorsement, meanwhile, keeps a prominent Russian face aligned with the Kremlin, countering narratives of isolation. All three developments point to a regime entrenching itself for a prolonged conflict — and signaling that business as usual, whether corporate or athletic, is only on Moscow’s terms.