Vladimir Putin approves secret deal for Scotch whisky to be smuggled into Russia
dailyrecord.co.ukVladimir Putin has approved a secret deal for Scotch whisky to be smuggled into Russia –avoiding an exports ban. The Sunday Mail can reveal he has signed an order allowing popular brands such as Bell’s, Johnnie Walker and Macallan in to the former Soviet Union via a process called parallel imports.
Also known as “the grey market”, it means the supply of goods without the consent of the manufacturer, owner or licence holder.The goods for parallel import list features about 200 brands including Apple, Marvel, Disney Pixar and DC Comics.The other big-selling Scotch whisky brands on the list are Black & White, White Horse, Lagavulin, Bowmore, Aberlour and Auchentoshan.Products like Jägermeister, Jack Daniel’s, Jim Beam and Malibu are also being sought for import.All were widely available in Russia until manufacturers announced the suspension of supplies to Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.Governments across the world including the UK, the US and the EU have slapped punishing sanctions on Russia and stopped or severely limited trade with the now largely pariah state.More than 1000 foreign firms have also cut back or suspended operations with hundreds quitting Russia entirely.
This has created massive shortages in shops.The move by Putin is an attempt to get around the ban by sourcing the items from other suppliers or friendly countries who have not stopped trading with them.
Nations whose companies still operate in Russia include China, India and Turkey.Leaked Russian government documents show how Putin signed the law to legalise parallel imports in June 2022 against a backdrop of sanctions by countries like the UK, America and the EU.On its website, Russia’s ministry of industry and trade explains the decision to
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