McDonald’s era in Russia coming to a close, restaurants sold

By DEE-ANN DURBIN
AP Business Writer

McDonald’s is selling all of its restaurants in Russia 30 years after the burger chain became a powerful symbol of easing Cold War tensions between the United States and Soviet Union. It shuttered all Russian locations in March because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Chicago burger giant said its existing licensee Alexander Govor, who operates 25 restaurants in Siberia, has agreed to buy McDonald’s 850 Russian restaurants and operate them under a new name. McDonald’s Russian operations contributed 9% of the company’s annual sales, or around $2 billion. McDonald’s was among the first Western consumer brands to enter Russia in 1990.