I have predicted for some time that Putin will seize gobs of property from any foreign firm that closes down its Russian operations. It has begun.
In a civilized country, that would entail some property rights issues, copyright issues, trademarks, proprietary information, permits, and licenses.
Russia, firmly established by its conduct both home and abroad, is not a civilized country. It is a medieval, Dark Ages fiefdom run by a little mad man who kills babies, children, women, and old persons with horrific weapons because they longed to be free and turned to Europe rather than his enslaved thugocracy.
Putin is going to do the following:
1. Putin will seize McDonalds 850 stores.
2. Putin will overturn property rights, trademarks, copyright, ownership, employer-employee relationships, and proprietary processes and operate McDonalds.
3. I am not certain as to the trademark, but McVlad Freedom Burgers has a nice ring to it.
4. What we have formerly known as the Big Mac will now be known as the Big Pute.
The Big Pute stocking the freezer for the Filet o’ Ukraine fish sandwich.
5. Ronald McDonald has gone to fight in Ukraine against the barbaric, medieval, Dark Ages invasion and will be replace by Ivan McPute.
Everybody saw this coming. It is not a surprise.
Russia has a long history under Putin of seizing businesses, installing friendly oligarchs to run them, kicking back 15% to the tight-nippled, Little Barechested Guy, and operating with impunity.
A big company like McDonalds [pay attention Starbucks] is symbolic and it has 62,000 employees [that McDonalds continues to pay during this episode].
The big issue will be this — if and when the invasion of Ukraine is resolved, how will Russia ever convince any past, present, or future investor that it is a nation of laws? To buy property?
This will haunt Russia forever.