A Russian fashion retailer has found itself in a precarious situation with conservative and pro-Kremlin individuals after hosting a lavish trip to the French ski resort of Courchevel for celebrities and influencers.
Rendez-Vous, which offers a range of mid-tier to luxury brands, marked its 25th anniversary alongside the 16th anniversary of its Courchevel boutique with this four-day excursion earlier this month.
Guests, including media figure Ksenia Sobchak, influencer Oksana Samoilova, model Elena Perminova, and stylist Alexander Rogov, were reportedly flown in private jets and helicopters, enjoying extravagant parties at a staggering cost of at least 30 million rubles (approximately $395,907).
One dinner alone allegedly exceeded 1 million rubles ($11,242).
Additionally, ten employees from the company reportedly participated in the trip.
Lawmakers and pro-Kremlin figures quickly condemned the display of affluence amidst Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Ultra-conservative deputy Vitaly Milonov stated that while there are many “patriotic businesses” in Russia, Rendez-Vous might be better off moving its operations overseas.
“The Rendez-Vous celebration in Courchevel resembles a gathering of ‘Ukrainian underlings’,” Milonov remarked, labeling the attending female celebrities as “gold diggers.”
Deputy Amir Khamitov argued that “lavish parties” during the war in Ukraine are “immoral.”
“Unfortunately, despite the challenging times our country faces, there are still individuals who believe they are unaffected and can continue living as before,” Khamitov told the state-owned RIA Novosti news agency.
“Hosting such extravagant events during [the conflict] and amid serious geopolitical tensions is simply unethical and shows a lack of respect for our soldiers, who put their lives on the line daily,” he remarked.
Another deputy, Alexander Tolmachev, suggested that the event planners had not learned from prior controversies involving elite gatherings, alluding to the 2023 “nearly naked” party hosted by blogger and TV personality Anastasia Ivleeva, which angered conservative and pro-war circles.
“Foreign travel and exorbitantly priced accommodations for influencers alone were sufficient to incite public outrage,” he stated.
The backlash grew stronger as reports surfaced that Rendez-Vous had recently reduced employee salaries and cut bonuses, which form a sizable portion of retail workers’ earnings.
The far-right Orthodox group Sorok Sorokov called on Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev to investigate the parent company of Rendez-Vous for potential financial and tax discrepancies.
“There is information indicating Rendez-Vous organized a lavish corporate event in Courchevel while simultaneously slashing salaries and bonuses for its staff,” the group noted in its appeal.
“We request an investigation into potential financial and tax violations, as well as possible infringements on the constitutional rights and freedoms of the company’s employees,” it stated.
In response to the backlash, the company asserted on Friday that salaries had not been decreased, and that fixed wages had actually been raised across all locations.
It emphasized that the brand has been operating outside of Russia, including in Courchevel, for 16 years and that influencers were invited to celebrate the store’s anniversary and to “foster more effective partnerships.”
“We are keenly aware of audience feedback and will factor this into our future project planning and event formats,” the statement concluded.
In 2024, celebrities who attended Ivleeva’s “nearly naked” party were compelled to issue public apologies, while some lost advertising contracts and were removed from New Year’s television broadcasts.
Ivleeva herself was fined for organizing the event and subsequently expressed her support for President Vladimir Putin, diverging from her previous stance.
