Krispy Kreme Just Opened In Russia. A Donut There Will Cost You $1.85 And Possibly Jail Time

American phenomenon Krispy Kreme just opened its first store in Russia. Yes, that’s a photo of their first store, with line out the door. A donut ( or “doughnut” as the company prefers) there will cost you $1.85, a cup of coffee about $6.32, and a trip to Moscow may cost you fifteen days in jail and deportation if you do anything to make Russian authorities think you’re LGBT — thanks to Russian president Vladimir Putin‘s war on gays.

In June, Putin signed a law banning any public expression of homosexuality, including a same-sex couple walking down the street holding hands, or even “liking” on Facebook a photo of a same-sex couple walking down the street holding hands.

U.S. iconic brands, including McDonald’s, KFC, Subway, Burger King, and Dunkin’ Donuts are already in Russia. As The New Civil Rights Movement reported, Quiznos is working on opening 500 stores there soon.

Krispy Kreme “expects to open 40 locations in Moscow,” the Moscow News reports. No word on if they’ll employ anyone LGBT. The company’s U.S. website says it’s “a sweet environment where people are our #1 priority,” and touts that it’s “an Equal Opportunity employer.”

“All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, marital status, veteran status or any other basis protected by local, state or federal law.”

So, Krispy Kreme does not automatically offer employment protections for LGBT people, according to their website? Neither sexual orientation nor gender identity are mentioned — just like Quiznos.

They’ll fit right in, in Russia.

It’s a pity America is exporting its best brands to Russia, but not its best ideals.

 

Image, top: First Krispy Kreme store to open in Russia. Photo by R E D via Twitter.
Krispy Kreme logo via Facebook.