Boycotting Russian Goods and Services

heartychat on 12/03/2022 - 12:41
Last edited 23/03/2022 - 20:57

I know that many governments around the world have already placed economic sanctions on Russia.

Are there any goods or services that are available for purchase to the common Australian citizen that we could be made aware of that supports the Russian or Belarus government, or Russian oligarch businesses? I’m trying to think of goods or services that may either directly or indirectly (back door) support, assist the Russian/Belarus/oligarch establishments, and I can’t think of any that the Australian citizen can directly boycott.

EDIT: 23rd March 2022

Well it's been a week and a half from when I first posted this, and I'd say this has been a wildly successful post. It's successful because after about 440 comments from 130 different contributors, I got the answer to the original question (see below list). It's taken a while for me to get back to this, because I only read this every couple of days or so. Thank you Ozbargain community for answering the question!

  • some caviar brands
  • selected vodka brands. However, many Australian liquor stores have already pulled them from their shelves and catalogues
  • Matryoshka dolls
  • some diamonds originate from Russian owned mines
  • some computer games, computer services and programs
  • watch brands e.g. Vostok and Sturmanskie
  • some decorative swords

Btw, I haven't added 'fuel' as an answer since as far as I can tell, we can't choose the country of origin for consumer fuel.

For those that want to support Russia, one way that you could start is by purchasing items from this list. Best of luck with your purchases.

General Discussion

Comments

  • Hybroid on 12/03/2022 - 12:46
    +25

    Diamonds and alcohol are the only 2 I can think of really.

    Regardless, personal use level boycotts have no real world impact on global companies. It's a minor fluctuation.

    • gromit on 14/03/2022 - 17:12
      +8

      Most people can't even work out the difference between Russian and Russian names. e.g. they had videos of people pouring out Smirnoff vodka and thinking it was a Russian Vodka lol. Then you have the moronic stuff in the US where locally owned and operated petrol stations had their licenses to operate pulled because they had a Russian name (franchise purchased from Russian oil company) even though they were owned by Americans and selling American pumped gas lol.

      • Scrooge McDuck on 14/03/2022 - 17:17
        +21

        Boycott pavlova!!

        • gromit on 14/03/2022 - 17:25
          +9

          sounds insane but a restaurant in Canada got threats for selling Poutine. A lot of stupidity out there, betting any such boycotts will mostly be friendly fire victims.

          • juki on 15/03/2022 - 21:41
            +5

            @gromit: wouldnt canadians know what poutine is?! its their national dish

          • Bozman on 18/03/2022 - 16:09

            @gromit: I remember in the 90's when France was nuclear testing in the Pacific and there was push back against all things French. Morons were boycotting french fries, french polishers (for furniture) and Australian owned and operated French restaurants!

    • SydStrand on 14/03/2022 - 21:58
      +7

      You forgot Beluga caviar

      • heartychat on 14/03/2022 - 22:18
        +1

        Thank you. I forgot all about that. I’ll keep that in mind at my daughter’s birthday and Christmas time. It’s about the only time of year that we indulge in it, and it’s one of her favourite things.

      • gromit on 14/03/2022 - 22:58
        +1

        Most Beluga Caviar doesn't come from Russia anymore and hasn't for a long time, Many of the traditional countries that supplied it were banned from importing to countries that fall under CITES due to its endangered status, so no you don't want to avoid Beluga Caviar if you are buying it as most likely it will be coming from farms in China/US/Iran etc.

    • smartazz104 on 15/03/2022 - 17:29
      +16

      Diamonds

      Oh no my weekly diamond shop.

    • Antikythera on 17/03/2022 - 07:35

      ALH hotels, and I assume BWS and Dan Murphy's as they are part of the same business group, removed all Russian alcohol from sale a week or so ago.

    • Sidor on 17/03/2022 - 19:35

      Kaspersky

  • payless69 on 12/03/2022 - 13:02
    +1

    make a poll!

  • rektrading on 12/03/2022 - 13:05
    +66

    Why do you want to punish Russo citizens for something that their President is doing?

    • AustriaBargain on 12/03/2022 - 13:09
      +33

      Because it's probably the best way to a force a Russian coup.

      • rektrading on 12/03/2022 - 13:14
        +30

        Do you mean that they should die to try to and remove their President?

          • rektrading on 12/03/2022 - 13:32
            +22

            @AustriaBargain: They will die if they try and use force to remove their President.

            • AustriaBargain on 12/03/2022 - 13:33
              +45

              @rektrading: Removing Putin has always been their burden to bear.

                • Benoffie on 12/03/2022 - 14:30
                  +72

                  @rektrading: I'm sorry but this ^ has be be sarcasm, right?

                  • MrFrugalSpend on 12/03/2022 - 17:31
                    +19

                    @Benoffie: Perhaps rektrading is a bit unfamiliar with the misfortunes of political opponents, and believes "elections" around the world are 100% fair along with the local media coverage!

                • parisienne on 12/03/2022 - 19:08
                  +3

                  @rektrading: And pastel coloured houses line the leafy streets of all the world's countries,whilst all the world's families are upper middle class and exactly like the Brady bunch.

                • Deals For Days on 14/03/2022 - 12:18
                  +16

                  @rektrading: You realise the opposition leader was poised by the Kremlin and almost died, and is now imprisoned by them, right?

                  lmfao

                • idonotknowwhy on 14/03/2022 - 16:20
                  +7

                  @rektrading: The elections are rigged in Russia

                  • rektrading on 14/03/2022 - 16:21
                    -1

                    @idonotknowwhy: Only in Russia?

                    • SydStrand on 14/03/2022 - 22:21
                      +23

                      @rektrading:

                      Only in Russia?

                      Ridiculous whataboutism. The politburo would proud. No democracy is perfect, but you're being dumb or deliberately obstinate just to win an internet argument, to think it's comparable to Russia, which is effectively United Russia or the highway. Putin's been running Russia for the last two decades, and his victory margins keep growing. You think that's all organic support? You think ScoMo has people shot outside government house, or casually poisons the opposition leader?

                      It's easy and naive to say 'just vote him out' in a country where journalists keep mysteriously dying, is completely blanketed by state propagandist media, and not toeing the party line means a one way trip a gulag. Yep, if only ordinary Russians would just trust the electoral process..

                    • idonotknowwhy on 14/03/2022 - 23:30
                      +6

                      @rektrading: No, not only in Russia.

                • SydStrand on 14/03/2022 - 21:59
                  +7

                  @rektrading:

                  That is what elections are for.

                  Bahahahha

          • Pretzel_Ninja on 14/03/2022 - 14:24
            +10

            @AustriaBargain: Several reports on the US lead tough sanctions on Iraq cite that it resulted in the deaths of 500,000 children. That number is debated but the consensus is that economic sanctions did cause many deaths of Iraq's citizens. Not being able to source food/water and medical supplies.

        • centrelink on 14/03/2022 - 18:49

          lol..Reminds me of Tianemen Square when they tried to change the system.

          good thing no one died.

        • fprjet on 17/03/2022 - 09:27
          +2

          The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.'”

          • rektrading on 17/03/2022 - 09:41
            +1

            @fprjet: The US or NATO starting WWIII will be the final evil.

            • SydStrand on 17/03/2022 - 12:14
              +3

              @rektrading: Yes. It's the US and NATO that's liable for WWIII by escalating this conflict when they ordered thousands of Russian troops into Ukraine. I've read enough propagandist stupidity today.

              • rektrading on 17/03/2022 - 12:42
                -2

                @SydStrand: The armed conflict is now between Ukraine and Russia.

                It will be WWIII if the US or NATO provide military support.

                It's better for the world if they don't engage.

                • Sidor on 18/03/2022 - 08:23
                  +1

                  @rektrading: Stupidity at its best

                  • rektrading on 18/03/2022 - 08:41

                    @Sidor: NATO being stupid is better than they starting WWIII and killing millions of people.

            • fprjet on 18/03/2022 - 10:15
              +1

              @rektrading: Sure nothing to do with Russia, Hey!!

              • rektrading on 18/03/2022 - 10:22

                @fprjet: The armed conflict is between Ukraine and Russia.

                NATO engaging will start WWIII.

                • fprjet on 18/03/2022 - 10:34
                  +1

                  @rektrading: Or Putin will pull his head in, They just need to show intent that they will commit troops not necessarily shoot down planes etc… Putin has nothing to gain from WW3. it wouldn't have Happend under Trump…….

                  • rektrading on 18/03/2022 - 11:43

                    @fprjet: People shouldn't play chicken with someone that can flatten Warsaw with a press of a button.

                    The Russo scorched earth in both WWI and WWII. It would be a mistake to think that Putin didn't learn this growing up.

                    • Sidor on 19/03/2022 - 05:56
                      +2

                      @rektrading: Can't Warsaw can flatten Moscow and Putin's bunker in exactly the same fashion?

                  • gromit on 18/03/2022 - 16:19

                    @fprjet: He also has nothing to lose, if he looks like he lost he is finished so why not ww3. We need to stop looking for a way to win and look for a way to safely end the war, for people to live and him to save face so he can back away.

                    • sal78 on 19/03/2022 - 09:19
                      +1

                      @gromit: Sun tzu's Art of War. Everything the West is doing is deliberate. Both have the power to end the war. Both playing games and the poor Ukrainian civilians suffer.

      • moortoozzy on 12/03/2022 - 16:02
        +3

        it is actually doing the opposite - proves his point that everyone is enemy of russia and gives him more support.

      • Korban Dallas on 14/03/2022 - 21:49
        +1

        Probably will get assassinated

    • Brick Tamland on 14/03/2022 - 19:18
      +5

      You cant hurt the government without hurting the people

      • rektrading on 14/03/2022 - 21:08
        -7

        You can hurt the people without hurting the government.

      • Kangal on 15/03/2022 - 01:13
        +1

        How?

      • ultraviolet on 18/03/2022 - 17:20

        That is exactly what Putin is doing. He believes that killing/hurting the citizens old or young will hurt the government of Ukraine (I think it does). On the other hand it is very hard to hurt only the Russian government without hurting the people with sanctions (economic operations) agains invasion (military operations).

    • Butt Scratcher on 15/03/2022 - 16:33
      +1

      A leader of a country is supposed to be accountable to it's people. If you make political decisions that adversely affects the people, in theory it's on the politician (and conscious).

      It's not very effective in deterring if the leader of the country is a psychopath who reminisces about the glory days of the soviet union

      • Droz on 15/03/2022 - 18:16

        Only in a democracy.

        Not in a "democracy".

  • popsiee on 12/03/2022 - 13:07
    +8

    Don't worry OP the Poor Buggers there can't get Maccas anymore .
    That is enough .

    • zombie hunter on 14/03/2022 - 12:05

      That like taking away ice from a drug addict.
      I hope it make them get rid of putin so they can get maccas fix

    • idonotknowwhy on 14/03/2022 - 23:32
      +11

      And also Nyetflix

      • grr1701 on 15/03/2022 - 10:20
        +3

        I see what you did there. Hehehe.

  • elgrande on 12/03/2022 - 13:17
    +1

    Fury coats.

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 12/03/2022 - 13:46
      +51

      Where do you buy these angry jackets?

      • meatgasm on 14/03/2022 - 14:28

        I mean, at least its not Furry coats.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 12/03/2022 - 13:20
    +8

    I have never been more conflicted about smashing a 4 pack of vodka cruisers on a lazy sat afternoon

    • chickenchipsgravy on 12/03/2022 - 13:42
      +3

      All good, bro… choice as, made in NZ by Jap owned Asahi …

      • Soluble on 12/03/2022 - 16:48
        -1

        Made in Australia, doesn't mention where the vodka is made, but I would assume also australia!

        We have seen some NZ cruisers but they tend to be 5% alcohol instead of our 4.6% and come to Australia rarely

    • Ridiculous Panda on 15/03/2022 - 10:47

      Make yourself feel better for more than one reason and get the knock off version from Aldi for half the price. Just as good.

      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 15/03/2022 - 10:49

        looks like this is going to require a cross border trip to Tweed heads. (QLD doesnt have access to aldi alcohol.

        • Ridiculous Panda on 15/03/2022 - 10:51

          Did you just change your location from Sydney to Australia? I checked before replying or maybe i clicked on the user below by mistake 🙃

        • Baysew on 19/03/2022 - 10:31

          Do you have to smuggle it in using back roads Dukes of Hazzard style?

  • loropy9 on 12/03/2022 - 13:23
    +3

    Titanium!

    • Scrooge McDuck on 14/03/2022 - 17:21
      +16

      Cancelled my order. Thank you!!

  • Hithere on 12/03/2022 - 13:32
    +20

    Mail Order Brides.

    Overall, the average cost of Russian mail order brides starts from $1,800 to $15,000

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 12/03/2022 - 13:47
      +12

      starts from $1,800 to $15,000

      Is that express shipping versus normal mail?

    • moortoozzy on 12/03/2022 - 16:03
      +21

      ukranian brides are much cheaper and better looking

      • zombie hunter on 14/03/2022 - 12:03
        +20

        and can get refugee status

    • Montyjpm on 15/03/2022 - 06:12

      This will be hard for AgentOrange.

  • Gervais fanboy on 12/03/2022 - 13:56
    +96

    Ohh okay, I’ll do that right after I abandon American goods for all their war crimes.

    And Chinese goods for …. You know what.

    This selective cancel culture and selective outrage speaks more about us as a society rather than any other geo political issue thats out there.

    • [Deactivated] on 12/03/2022 - 17:50
      +33

      all it does is show the virtue signallers for who they really are. they only care if the dead people are blonde and blue eyed and how convenient it is to boycott.

      • Gervais fanboy on 12/03/2022 - 18:12
        +16

        Hmm, i am sure that’s a factor mate but not a predominant one.
        Its more to do with the perception of who the real ‘innocent victim’ is. Muslims have been vilified for far too long, Westerners don’t weep for them as they do for people from other faiths/cultures.
        Also, these ‘progressive’ liberals revel in their uni degrees and their woke agendas.
        Whilst being completely oblivious to the fact that all their ‘original ideas’ and ‘worldviews’ aren’t so original as they too have been brainwashed by the establishment.
        We all should be uniting against the powers that are playing us….

        • sal78 on 19/03/2022 - 09:26
          +1

          The double standard is astounding don't you think? Who sanctioned US? Who cares that US shooting missiles in Somalia now and has been since last year?

          • Gervais fanboy on 19/03/2022 - 09:38

            @sal78: They’d probably back US to do it all again if they could. Coz that’s what they would be programmed to do via the internet, social media etc

      • May4th on 14/03/2022 - 15:00
        +2

        ah yes.. and whatever token gesture they make there is an absolute need to make sure the world (ie. social media) is there to see it

    • GrueHunter on 14/03/2022 - 13:20
      +4

      selective cancel culture

      “I don’t like what Russia is doing in Ukraine”
      “OMG THATS VIRCHOO SINGALLIGN”
      “Settle down mate”
      “HELP IM BEIGN CANCULLED”

      • Gervais fanboy on 14/03/2022 - 14:06
        +22

        You don’t like what’s happening in Ukraine ?
        Okay, I don’t either but did you like what happened/happening in other War torn countries ?
        If not, then point me to where was this moral outage then ? Or are we going to be selective about our moral outcrys ?
        Is one murdering establishment more guilty than others?
        If yes, then please explain why

        Only reason I am making these points are to highlight the double standards here.
        I am used to our politicians and world leaders pulling this kind of crap.
        I just feel bad seeing my fellow honest folk like yourself parroting this same manipulative drivel.

        • caitsith01 on 15/03/2022 - 00:15
          +7

          It's really not that hard. Ukraine is a relatively liberal democratic country with increasingly close ties to the west. We are part of the west. Furthermore Russia has a long history of trying to harm the west and democracy more generally. Therefore it tends to be a point of focus when Russia decides to invade one of our democratic friends.

          Should we be outraged about other wars and repressive behaviour? Sure. I didn't watch a second of the Olympics and I will not be watching any of the World Cup, for example. I also marched against the Iraq war like hundreds of thousands of other Australians.

          Frankly, I think calling it virtue signalling, cancel culture etc is just an excuse to be lazy and disengaged. Hey, look at me, I'm so cool that I don't care about anything!

          Finally, it's a fallacy to argue that if you don't fix every problem in the world simultaneously you shouldn't try to fix ANY problem.

          • Kangal on 15/03/2022 - 01:18
            +6

            @caitsith01: Ditto.
            Just because you made a mistake in the past, does not mean you need to repeat it. So giving Russia a pass because The West invaded Iraq is not logically sound.

            Two wrongs don't make a right.

            • Gervais fanboy on 15/03/2022 - 10:38
              +10

              @Kangal: ‘Made a mistake’
              You call that ‘a’ mistake. Singular ?
              Mate, west has a history of ruining lives every decade to keep feeding tax dollars to their industrial military complex. There is always a agenda behind everything they do. Nothing’s ever done from the kindness of their hearts but to somehow justify inflation, preposterous government spendings to ultimately benefit the few up top.
              Revelations of which only surface much later on.

              Using that as a precedent, I’d rather we all brace ourselves for the truth that’s not out in the public eye yet. For there is always an agenda behind every mnoble crusade’ that our establishments embark upon.
              For we are the mere pawns that fund and support this never ending loop.

              • Kangal on 17/03/2022 - 22:34
                +4

                @Gervais fanboy: Where did I say it was singular?
                You seem to think I was excusing The West, but you are sorely incorrect. Especially if you believe that gives justification for Russia's actions. The facts are this: Ukraine did not attack Russia, and Russia invaded then attacked Ukraine. There's no disputing that. So what we conclude is that either Russia is "the bad guy" or that they have some very very appropriate reasoning which explains why that behaviour is they are "not the bad guy". That latter part is on you to explain, and justify.

                What are you insinuating about the Iraq invasion? Are you saying that I was responsible, because I live in The West? Because I believe the people morally responsible for that was the people who made the decision (eg Presidents), those who reported the decision (eg Biased Media), those who followed the orders (eg Generals), and those who executed the commands (eg Soldiers). So what you call "The West" is literally less than 5% of the population, probably less than 1% so that's a bit of a stretch there.

                Also, you are mistaken of a few other details. When USA made the decision to invade Iraq, many close allies rejected the decision. There were tens of thousands of citizens who did mass protests all around the world. But these events were under/not reported on Mainstream Media. Whilst Social Media was non-existent /infancy at the time as well as the internet. We didn't have this environment of phones, cameras, and good connectivity everywhere like we did back then. That's a big distinction between the two invasions. Sure we are pawns, but ape together strong. If all Russia decided overnight that Putin was no longer their leader, then tomorrow, that would be true. That's why accurate information, and mass communication is a necessity. Not misinformation and censorship.

                Also, you're not correct about Washington's stance. There is currently a bipartisan agreement that neither democrats nor republicans want to get involved with the conflict. A "no-fly zone" is not possible for USA to implement, without deploying troops there. And that would mean getting into conflict and escalating things.
                -Perhaps they shouldn't escalate? As it could mean its worse for everyone and even the start of WW3 or Nuclear Warfare.
                -Perhaps they should escalate? Russia is much more vulnerable than USSR was, far fewer friends and allies, a very small population, and a big military might that consists of lots of old-tech. So a confident show of force would stop all the bloodshed instantly.

                Who knows. It is complex. But my initial point still stands true: two-wrongs do not make a right.

                • Gervais fanboy on 18/03/2022 - 10:35
                  -1

                  @Kangal: Mate, you didn’t say it was singular.
                  I used semantics to discredit your point, I apologise for that.

                  Now Ofcos I don’t blame you or my fellow ordinary everyday people for what happened in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya etc
                  Because none of us knew the truth back then.
                  But I do bestow some blame on people now that still blindly believe the establishment, reminds of that ‘fool me once’ analogy.

                  Even from the most liberal perspective we should be at a point where we can all agree that nothing that the government does is for our good or some ‘moral gesture’. There’s always something in it for them - or otherwise nothing good ever gets done. Especially at the central - state level. Local governments tend to be better. Anyways I digress.

                  Btw Russia has verbalised their concerns about US’s growing Kinship with Ukraine. We don’t have the intel and the political know-how that they have. Its a possibility that the invasion was a tool of precaution rather than crazy aggression. I don’t know the state of politics in Russia, can’t really measure the credibility/track record of Putin.

                  Also, I don’t remember making a comment about Washington’s stance to join in on the war. I might have done but in quick glance now I couldn’t see it and I don’t remember.

                  But just yesterday I think, Biden sanctioned a billion dollars in military aid to Ukraine, involving the supply of military grade equipment.
                  Unofficially now US has involved itself in this war. Despite polls suggesting that 70%+ American population would rather not get involved. So much for democracy, aye..

                  If only they all knew that the US government is trillions of dollars in federal debt and growing everyday. So are the interest payments on them.

              • sal78 on 19/03/2022 - 09:32
                +1

                @Gervais fanboy: Lol it's not a mistake.

                US is a war loving country. There will never be peace for too long because the arms dealers need to make money. The only ppl to benefit from wars. Looks at NATO making every NATO country send weapons to Ukraine…we don't have weapons to send. We buy from the arms dealers. Look at every country pledging billions to boost their defence. There are many corps loving the war and fuelling it to last longer than it should have.

          • Gervais fanboy on 15/03/2022 - 10:33
            +4

            @caitsith01: “Ukraine is a relatively liberal democratic country with increasingly close ties to the west”
            Yes, I am quite aware of that. Especially when you see a drug fiend in Hunter Biden make millions from working in Ukraine’s energy sector whilst his dad approved millions in citizen paid American tax fundings to Ukraine.
            So yes, they are quite the ‘allies’ indeed.

            Now, you make a good general point is saying that we shouldn’t/can’t fix all the world problems at the same time. We need to start somewhere. Okay, I agree with you on that.
            But who gets to decide which side is in the right and which side is in the wrong.
            Mate, just coz our media tells us Russia - Bad, Ukraine - Good.
            We need to remember the past and how disingenuous our very own establishment is. At a minimum we should be skeptical of the whole thing. Not bloody join in on the tirade.
            For the guilty(our governments) shouldn’t get to pass the verdict on the very crimes that they themselves are obviously guilty of.

            Because there is a Russia’s side of the story to this whole debacle and why they felt justified into invading Ukraine, that only a very few of you are aware of because it isn’t even being reported anywhere. Let alone be discussed or scrutinised.

            I personally feel like we shouldn’t be able to trust anyone at this point. Let alone pick sides.

            So

            • caitsith01 on 15/03/2022 - 10:54
              +7

              @Gervais fanboy: You seem to think that people literally have zero critical thinking abilities. Do you dispute the objective facts that (a) Ukraine did not attack Russia, and (b) Russia did attack and invade Ukraine?

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