DON’T MISS
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Expat Info
Swiss news & articles
Famous Swiss brands join boycott of Russia
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

Famous Swiss brands join boycott of Russia

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

Why are the Swiss so good at making watches?Why are the Swiss so good at making watches?
What is the Geneva Convention and why does it matter?What is the Geneva Convention and why does it matter?
Why does Switzerland have fewer strikes than other countries?Why does Switzerland have fewer strikes than other countries?
How someone in Switzerland can help people in Turkey and SyriaHow someone in Switzerland can help people in Turkey and Syria
7 things expats in Switzerland need to know about in October 20227 things expats in Switzerland need to know about in October 2022
Was there really a tsunami-like wave on Lake Geneva in the 6th century?Was there really a tsunami-like wave on Lake Geneva in the 6th century?
Tick season in Switzerland: What expats need to knowTick season in Switzerland: What expats need to know
Prepared for everything: What is the Swiss strategic stockpile?Prepared for everything: What is the Swiss strategic stockpile?
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Mar 9, 2022
Jan de Boer

Editor at IamExpat Media

Jan studied History at the University of York and Broadcast Journalism at the University of Sheffield. Though born in York, Jan has lived most of his life in Zurich and has worked as a journalist, writer and editor since 2016. While he has plunged head-first back into life in Switzerland since returning to the country in 2020, he still enjoys a taste of home at pub quizzes and karaoke nights.Read more

The luxury watchmaker Rolex is the latest in a number of Swiss international companies that have boycotted sales or halted exports to Russia. Under substantial public pressure, many Swiss firms have also suspended investments in the country until the conflict is resolved.

Major Swiss brands begin boycott of Russia

A spokesperson for Rolex said that the company would be joining its peers The Swatch Group and Richemont in stopping all exports to Russia. They confirmed that the only Rolex watches sold in Russia would be through independent and private retailers who had received the watches before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Many Swiss companies - from banking to manufacturing and logistics - have suspended their activities in Russia, in response to a combination of public pressure and the impact of sanctions imposed by Switzerland on the country. Swiss railway manufacturer ABB said on March 2 that it would suspend all operational activities in Russia, as well as Ukraine and Belarus, due to the impossibility of manufacturing in a war zone.

Swiss manufacturers suspend operations in Russia

Stadler Rail has said that it is prepared to transfer its production from Belarus, a key Russian ally, to the EU, should the need arise. Georg Fischer's Machining Solutions division has also ceased most of its operations in Russia, as have Starrag Group, Orior, Schindler Group and Kühne+Nagel. Swiss food giant Nestlé has also frozen its advertising in the country, but will still supply food and drink in Russia.

Finally, Swiss banks have frozen the assets of Russian people with strong ties to the Kremlin. The exclusion of some Russian banks from the SWIFT banking system has meant that many financial transactions remain impossible. 

Along with large international companies, people across Switzerland have shown support for Ukraine over the last few weeks. To find out how you can get involved, check out our guide to how someone in Switzerland can help people in Ukraine.

By Jan de Boer