Accessibility links

Breaking News

Dutch Court Upholds Ruling Giving Russia Right To Stolichnaya Brand


A Dutch appeals court has upheld a ruling that granted the rights to the Stolichnaya vodka brand to a state-owned Russian company.

The January 9 ruling, which applies only to the Netherlands, is the latest decision in a worldwide battle over the rights to the famous brand.

The appeals court upheld a lower court's ruling granting the rights to Russian company Soyuzplodoimport and stripping them from Luxembourg-based Spirits International

Yury Shefler, who is from Russia but lives abroad, acquired Stolichnaya through Spirits International amid the chaotic privatization of Russian state assets after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.

Spirits International owner SPI Group is also facing challenges over the Stolichnaya brand in several other European Union countries, as well as the United States and Australia.

Based on reporting by Reuters and The Telegraph

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG