November 05, 2023

A Brewer's Betrayal


A Brewer's Betrayal
Carlsberg lager. Unsplash.

Following the release of its quarterly report, Jacob Orup-Andersen, the newly appointed CEO of Danish multinational brewing corporation Carlsberg, affirmed the company's stance against asset seizure in Russia. This announcement was reported by Reuters.

"It is impossible to bypass the fact that they [the Russian authorities] stole our business in Russia, and we are not going to help them give it a legalized look," said Orup-Andersen. “We are not going to make a deal with the Russian government, which somehow justifies the illegal seizure of our business.”

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Carlsberg, as numerous other Western enterprises, chose to exit the Russian market. In June 2022, the Danish conglomerate disclosed it had found a buyer for its Russian operations. But the situation took a significant turn in July, when President Vladimir Putin implemented the nationalization of Carlsberg's stake in the Baltika brewing company.

In October 2023, Carlsberg officially declared the revocation of licenses previously granted to Baltika for the production and distribution of a wide array of Carlsberg brands, including iconic names such as Tuborg, Kronenbourg, and Holsten.

Orup-Andersen continued, "When these licenses expire, they will no longer be allowed to manufacture any of our products. Of course, I can't guarantee that this will happen, but we expect it.”

On October 20, Baltika successfully secured interim legal measures against Carlsberg through a court ruling. The court, in response to Baltika's petition, issued an injunction, restraining Rospatent from registering the termination of licenses for the prominent brands, which encompass Tuborg, Kronenbourg, Seth & Riley's Garage, Holsten, and LAV.

In response to Orup-Andersen's remarks, the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation said that the brewing entity Baltika is not under state ownership. It asserted that an administration of temporary management has been enacted, but that this move does not signify any alteration in the ownership framework. Furthermore, the Ministry of Finance underlined that the decision to implement temporary management at Baltika is in accordance with Russian law.

You Might Also Like

Hoppy Endings
  • August 30, 2023

Hoppy Endings

Heineken has completed its withdrawal from Russia, settling its operations for €1.
The Booze Must Flow
  • November 15, 2022

The Booze Must Flow

Russians hankering for foreign alcohol can now rest easy: state ministries will oversee the delivery of international alcohol products through a parallel import system.
A Debilitating Drought
  • July 30, 2022

A Debilitating Drought

Following the Ukrainian invasion, Russian bars and restaurants are expecting to face foreign liquor shortages. 
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

The Frogs Who Begged for a Tsar (bilingual)

The Frogs Who Begged for a Tsar (bilingual)

The fables of Ivan Krylov are rich fonts of Russian cultural wisdom and experience – reading and understanding them is vital to grasping the Russian worldview. This new edition of 62 of Krylov’s tales presents them side-by-side in English and Russian. The wonderfully lyrical translations by Lydia Razran Stone are accompanied by original, whimsical color illustrations by Katya Korobkina.
Faith & Humor: Notes from Muscovy

Faith & Humor: Notes from Muscovy

A book that dares to explore the humanity of priests and pilgrims, saints and sinners, Faith & Humor has been both a runaway bestseller in Russia and the focus of heated controversy – as often happens when a thoughtful writer takes on sacred cows. The stories, aphorisms, anecdotes, dialogues and adventures in this volume comprise an encyclopedia of modern Russian Orthodoxy, and thereby of Russian life.
Murder at the Dacha

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.
Driving Down Russia's Spine

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 
The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.
Survival Russian

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.
The Latchkey Murders

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...
A Taste of Russia

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.
Russian Rules

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.
A Taste of Chekhov

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955