Lithuania’s supermarket chain Maxima that is
present in all the three Baltic states as well as in Poland and Bulgaria and is
also the biggest retail chain and the largest employer in the Baltic States was
considering to turn to State Security Department (VSD) in connection with the
boycott of retail chains organised to 10-13 May.
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| photo by www.la.lv |
According to the spokesperson, their suspicions
were based on what they see on social networks and among some of their
employees that – as they suspect – these forces are trying to invoke to carry
out the action. Maxima was especially concerned about the fact that some of
initiators of the action are people mentioned in the VSD’s security assessment
report Assessment of Threats to National
Security. One of them, Laurynas Ragelskis has been active in public domain
with anti-state statements. The report tells about Ragelskis that he is the editor
of an Internet platform publishing anti-Western and pro-Russian articles in
Lithuanian, Ldiena.lt.
According to Maxima, that is the reason why
they were suspecting provocation behind the peaceful action. When asked if it
was not an attempt from the company to suppress the civil dissatisfaction with
high prices, R.Saulytė said that the aim is to ensure security and raise
awareness about possible provocations. She also added the in the course of
time, the rhetoric about the boycott has changed, becoming ever more aggressive.
There have been also Internet trolls on social network sites spreading the
photos of the head of the company and other provocations.
The company has consulted the Ministry of
Defence and also contacted the police and local governments that issue permits
to organize pickets. The executive director of the Lithuanian trade association
Laurynas Vilimas did not rule out the possibility that the umbrella
organization uniting all of the major retail chains would contact the relevant
departments if it is demonstrated that it is possible that the calls not to buy
in supermarkets will evolve into public threats.
When asked about the submission, the spokesman
of VSD commented that they have not received it yet, but if they receive, they
would evaluate it thoroughly.
About 100 000 people are expected to take
part in the boycott. According to PR specialists, publicizing the appeal was a
communication mistake as it can trigger even bigger protest. It may be the
explanation why the company later said it gave up the plan.
Cauliflower scandal
The boycott is organised because of the rapidly
rising food prices. In April, public discontent appeared on online platforms
because of the high prices of vegetables. One customer was complaining because
of the price of a cauliflower bought at Maxima – 3.50 €. Another reader drew
attention to the fact that in a supermarket chain in the UK, cauliflower costs
only 89 pence (1.15 €). After this, the site was flooded with comments on lower
prices of vegetables in Western European countries (Ireland, Germany, Italy). High
vegetable prices were explained by retailers and business analysts with the bad
weather conditions, long transport distances and with the fact that prices on
small markets always tend to be higher because of the smaller numbers of
customers and retailers. The law on price regulation in Lithuania ceased to be
in force last year.
