The Newark City Council has voted to shut down all Lukoil gas stations in the city due to the company’s ties to Russia.

The Lukoil company is headquartered in Moscow, but individual gas stations are franchises.

The Newark council voted to suspend the Lukoil licenses. The move does not seem to impact Russia in any way, but it does impact local businesses.

Newark Councilman Anibal Ramos says that the move was his idea.

“It’s not our intention here at all to punish any of the employees that may work there. A few of them actually contacted our office today and we’ve directed them to available job opportunities – both at Newark Works and at the Essex County One-Stop,” Ramos says.

The details about those jobs are unclear.

The head of the New Jersey Gasoline and Convenience Store Association calls the move "political theater."

News 12 New Jersey reached out to Ramos for further comment but did not hear back.

News 12 also reached out to Newark Mayor Ras Baraka’s office to see if he supports the move but did not get an answer.