Gerhard Schröder, the former Chancellor of Germany, joined the 74th birthday celebration of Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, in Moscow. The Kremlin announced on Thursday that Putin learned through Russian media that Schröder was in the Russian capital on a business trip.
Attendance at the Birthday Celebration and Published Photos
On Tuesday, while celebrating his birthday, Putin invited Schröder to his home. The Kremlin released images of the two smiling and holding hands.
The 82-year-old Schröder traveled to Moscow to visit one of the branches of the new Hyperglobus supermarket chain. Last week, he was appointed to the supervisory board of this chain.
Background of Hyperglobus and Schröder's Relations with Russia
Hyperglobus was established as part of the German retail company Globus Holding, which operates Globus supermarkets in Germany and the Czech Republic. Globus Holding also had supermarkets in Russia but divested its stake last year, and these stores were transferred to a separate company called Hyperglobus.
Schröder, a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), served as Chancellor of Germany from 1998 to 2005. After leaving office, he worked for Russian state energy companies and still maintains personal connections with Putin.
Criticism and Consequences of Schröder's Relations with Russia
Schröder's interest in Russia has faced criticism in recent years, especially following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. His office in Berlin, funded by taxpayers, was closed in 2022 due to his connections with the Russian energy sector. He has also faced calls from members of his party for his expulsion from the SPD.
However, Schröder has managed to remain in his party and is still under internal pressure. His relations with Russia and Putin have sparked widespread controversy in Germany and among members of the Social Democratic Party. Meanwhile, Schröder remains active in the political and economic arena and has maintained his connections with Russia.
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