Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, who recently joined the supervisory board of Russian supermarket chain Hyperglobus, visited one of the company’s stores in Moscow on Wednesday, where he was welcomed with applause by employees.
Footage released by Russian broadcaster RBC shows Schröder entering the supermarket as employees greeted him with prolonged applause.
Smiling, the former chancellor said he was pleased to be there and to have the opportunity to see the supermarket and the results of the staff’s work.
The visit comes just days after Schröder was appointed to the supervisory board of Hyperglobus, the company that operates the Globus chain in Russia.
Russian operations of Globus were separated from German group Globus Holding last year, while supermarkets in Russia continue to operate under the Globus brand.
Schröder, who served as Germany’s chancellor from 1998 to 2005, has maintained close ties with Russia and Russian President Vladimir Putin for years. After leaving politics, he worked for several Russian state-owned companies.
His ties to Moscow have been the subject of continued criticism, particularly in Germany, because he has maintained connections with Russian businesses even after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the introduction of Western sanctions.
In his new role, Schröder is expected to participate in the company’s overall management and contribute to the strategic development of its business in the Russian market.
