2006 Russian ban of Moldovan and Georgian wines
The 2006
The Chief Sanitary Inspector of Russia
In May 2006, Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili stated that "many [Georgian] wine producers exported falsified wine to Russia, because Russia is a market where you can sell even turds".[6] Okruashvili thought that Russia's decision to ban the import of Georgian wines "was not a surprise" for Tbilisi.[7]
Russia accounted for 80% of Georgian wine sales, and the ban was a major blow to the industry. Georgian producers swiftly admitted that wines were regularly faked. Prior to the ban, the Georgian government closed down several testing laboratories in Georgia, and several wineries were made to dump their product.[8] Seven Georgian wineries were closed down after the government revision revealed that they had produced falsified wine.[9][10] Production of falsified wine in Georgia for the rapidly expanding Russian market had been "big business for the last decade" according to the Western press.[11]
The ban on wine imports came at a time of worsening relations between the countries. The differences involved the Rose Revolution and pro-NATO/pro-EU moves in Georgia and a divergence of the Russian and Moldovan positions regarding the future of Transnistria. A year earlier, the Russian Duma had demanded a ban on Moldovan wine imports, because Moldova was considered to pursue anti-Russian policies.[12]
EU's external relations commissioner
From 5 May to 6 May 2006, the Russian government also banned the import of Borjomi (Russian: Боржоми, Georgian: ბორჯომი) and Nabeglavi (Russian: Набеглави, Georgian: ნაბეღლავი), two popular brands of Georgian mineral water.[15]
The government claimed that it was a health hazard since it failed to meet water purity standards. The Georgian government responded by stating that the action was an expansion of the wine embargo
Neither the Georgian or Moldovan wines nor the Borjomi or Nabeglavi mineral waters had been banned nor restricted in any other country besides Russia.[citation needed] One Russian expert has also criticized the Russian ban on "Borjomi".[18]
The drink ban appeared to exacerbate tensions between Russia and the Government of Georgia. The
In 2013, Georgian wines were sold in over 50 countries, including Ukraine, which became the key market after the Russian ban. However, sales later fell sharply, to about one third of what Georgia exported prior to the ban.[21]
Return of Georgian wines to the Russian market
In early 2013, negotiations between Russian and Georgian authorities and wineries were held in Moscow. Russia agreed to send inspectors to about 60 wine producing facilities in Georgia. According to an industry expert in the Georgian government, local wine products had a chance to return to the Russian market in 2013, and the country planned to grow wine production by 50% in 2015, almost reaching pre-ban levels. However, wine industry experts in Russia expected Georgian wines would enjoy limited interest in Russia, at about 1% market share, compared to 10% before the ban. The main reason is that the market became much more competitive since 2006, with manylocal, Western European, and South American wine brands, especially in the mid-price segment.[22]
The ban was lifted by the end of 2013.[23]
See also
References
- ^ "Russian wine move draws protests". BBC. 2006-03-30. Archived from the original on 9 April 2006. Retrieved 11 April 2006.
- ^ Regnum В ходе последних проверок в Москве пестициды обнаружены в 60% молдавских и 44% грузинских вин
- ^ "Moscova nu crede in vin". Evenimentul Zilei. 2008-04-07. Archived from the original on 12 March 2007. Retrieved 11 April 2006.
- ^ "В Грузии закрыты 7 заводов по производству поддельного вина - Экономика - Правда.Ру". Pravda.ru. 10 May 2006. Retrieved 2012-11-24.
- ^ "Похмелье алкогольной войны Политика ГАЗЕТА.GZT.ru". gzt.ru. Archived from the original on June 22, 2006.
- ^ [1] Archived May 7, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Georgia: The Ally Who Turned On Saakashvili". rferl. 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2013-02-14.
- ^ "West Chester University". Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2013-02-14.
- ^ "В Грузии закрыты 7 заводов по производству поддельного вина - Экономика - Правда.Ру". Pravda.ru. 10 May 2006. Retrieved 2012-11-24.
- ^ "Похмелье алкогольной войны Политика ГАЗЕТА.GZT.ru". gzt.ru. Archived from the original on June 22, 2006.
- ^ Parsons, Robert (2006-04-13). "Georgia/Russia: Georgian Agriculture Minister In Moscow For Talks On Wine Ban". Rferl.org. Retrieved 2012-11-24.
- ^ "Russian law-makers to outlaw Moldavian wine". Pravda. 2005-03-09. Archived from the original on 28 May 2005. Retrieved 11 April 2006.
- ^ "Premierul Tarlev reclamă Rusia la Uniunea Europeană". BBC Romanian. 2006-04-11. Retrieved 11 April 2006.
- ^ RIA Novosti (2006-05-05). "NATO official unhappy about Russian sanctions against Georgia". Archived from the original on 16 June 2006. Retrieved 7 May 2006.
- ^ "Russia bans another Georgian mineral water brand". Reuters Foundation AlertNet. 2006-05-06. Retrieved 6 May 2006.
- ^ "Russia bans Georgia mineral water". BBC News. 2006-05-05. Archived from the original on 18 May 2006. Retrieved 5 May 2006.
- ^ "Vilnius Conference on Europe's completion in the East". Eurasia Daily Monitor. 2006-05-05. Archived from the original on 16 May 2006. Retrieved 6 May 2006.
- ^ "Запрет "Боржоми" назван политическим решением". BBC Russian. 2006-05-05. Archived from the original on 17 May 2006. Retrieved 8 May 2006.
- ^ 24/11/2012+1°C. "Turning blood into wine | BUSINESS". The Moscow News. Archived from the original on 2012-09-02. Retrieved 2012-11-24.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Georgia Finalizes Withdrawal From CIS". Radiofreeeurope/Radioliberty. Rferl.org. Retrieved 2012-11-24.
- ^ "Дешевле, чем на Украине".
- ^ "Дешевле, чем на Украине".
- ^ "Georgia Doubles Wine Exports as Russian Market Reopens". RIA Novosti. 16 December 2013.