Boycott of Stolichnaya over Russia’s crackdown on gays is misplaced, says Latvian distiller that makes the famous vodka.
By: Gary Peach Associated Press, Published on Sat Aug 03 2013
RIGA, LATVIA—Many gay bars in North America have stopped selling the famous Stolichnaya vodka brand to protest Russia’s crackdown on the gay community.
But the vodka’s maker has joined forces with Latvia’s leading gay rights group to say that the boycott is misplaced.
Though Stolichnaya is a historic Russian brand and some of its ingredients come from Russia, virtually all the Stoli sold in the west is made in Latvia, a former Soviet republic that is now part of NATO and the European Union.
It’s the perception that it’s Russian that’s prompted the boycott. Russia recently introduced a law that bans so-called “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations” and imposes hefty fines on those holding gay pride rallies.
The vodka is produced in Latvia by Latvijas Balzams, which has 600 employees and is one of the country’s biggest exporters.
Though Stolichnaya is a historic Russian brand and some of its ingredients come from Russia, virtually all the Stoli sold in the west is made in Latvia, a former Soviet republic that is now part of NATO and the European Union.
It’s the perception that it’s Russian that’s prompted the boycott. Russia recently introduced a law that bans so-called “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations” and imposes hefty fines on those holding gay pride rallies.
The vodka is produced in Latvia by Latvijas Balzams, which has 600 employees and is one of the country’s biggest exporters.
However, Latvijas Balzams is nearly 90 per cent owned by Luxembourg-based SPI Group.
“We have been active in setting the records straight — that we stand on the same side and that we hate to be associated with the attitude and actions of the Russian government on this issue,” SPI told The Associated Press in an email response Friday
“We have been active in setting the records straight — that we stand on the same side and that we hate to be associated with the attitude and actions of the Russian government on this issue,” SPI told The Associated Press in an email response Friday
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Stoli boycott misdirected, says Latvian vodka distiller | Toronto Star
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