The Russian court defended the rights of producers of Pepsi and Kola: the sentence for “pallenka”

As it became known to MK, an underground workshop for the production of beverages was revealed in October 2024 in Khimki near Moscow. The production was located right in the middle of a huge dump. During the search, the operatives seized 20 pallets with liter bottles of Cola in the amount of 9,227 pieces, as well as 71,671 liter bottle of Pepsi. Here they found equipment for spilling, labels and other accessories. Four Azerbaijanis were detained, one of whom was related to the restaurant business. The businessmen said that they did not speak Russian, so the investigation of their activities was somewhat difficult. However, all four were charged with the production and sale of goods without labeling, illegal use of means of individualization of goods, as well as illegal migration (the company employed unofficial guest workers).

In their defense, the manufacturers of “pallenka” said that since Western trademarks left the Russian market, it means that the use of their trademarks cannot be considered a crime. However, the Khimki court did not take this argument into account. However, the punishment was fairly mild. One of the businessmen received 1 year and 8 months in prison, but by the decision of the Moscow court was released, since he had already served this term in the pre-trial detention center. The rest were given suspended punishment.