Russia aims to open its own version of McDonald's with similar logo after U.S. chain pulls out

It appears Russia is working on a replacement for McDonald's restaurants in the country, complete with a logo that looks remarkably similar to the fast-food chain's famous golden arches trademark.

The move follows the announcement on March 8 that the U.S.-based McDonald's would shut down its 850 locations in Russia to protest the country's invasion of Ukraine.

That decision sparked anger among members of Russia's government, prompting Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of the Russian State Duma, to address the matter in parliament last week, according to a report by British publication, the Express.

"McDonald's announced that they are closing. Well, good, close down!" said Volodin. "Tomorrow there won't be McDonald's, but Uncle Vanya's."

That same week, a Moscow-based patent lawyer filed for a trademark for a logo representing a business of "snack bars; a cafe; cafeterias; restaurants; self-service restaurants."

WATCH | McDonald's shuts down its Russian fast-food restaurants:

The logo the lawyer submitted closely resembles McDoanld's golden arches, except that, in this version, the arches lie sideways. Uncle Vanya is written in block letters below the symbol. 

Uncle Vanya is the title of a play published in 1897 by the renowned Russian writer Anton Chekhov. According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, "the play is a study of aimlessness and hopelessness."

McDonald's has yet to reply to a request for comment on Russia's apparent plans. But the Russian-designed logo is generating much discussion on social media where some people are pointing out the similarities between the two symbols.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, more than 400 businesses have curtailed or closed their Russian operations in protest, according to a report by Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, a management professor at Yale University.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin endorsed nationalizing foreign-owned businesses that have pulled out of the country, Russian state media reported. 

But the threat doesn't appear to be preventing foreign businesses from leaving — at least not yet.

On Thursday, Toronto-based Restaurant Brands International (RBI) announced that it's now trying to sever all ties to its 800 Burger King franchises still open in Russia. 

In an open letter posted online, RBI — which also owns Tim Hortons — stated that, as a result of a joint-venture partnership, it controls 15 per cent of Burger King's operations in Russia.