Music

Ikea's Russian website removes Pussy Riot inspired photo

by Tyler Munro

A contest page on IKEA’s Russian website has replaced its most popular photo with a statement after an image of four youths in balaclavas took a commanding lead in a competition to find the catalogue’s next cover.

“Ikea is a commercial organization that operates independently of politics and religion,” read the replacing statement. “We cannot allow our advertising project to be used as a means of propaganda.”

Reuters reports that Ikea’s history of working with the Russian Republic has been far from steady, with the Swedish furniture tycoon threatening to halt expansion into the country three years ago citing corruption and “red tape.” They’ve since posted record sales gains in the country. But while striking the image from their website might initially seem like a company caving to corporate pressures, the statement holds true.

Ikea rarely backs down from controversy, but the political statement being made in this image differs from their racy TV commercials or that time someone photoshopped a dick onto a dog. They’re here to sell uncomfortable couches and hard to assemble, 250-piece dressers (with three screws missing), not make a statement on the incredibly unfair imprisonment of three innocent women.