YEREVAN. Armenian MP and businessman Samvel Aleksanyan refutes accusations of the Ukrainian side that his company Aleks Grig produces vodka which resembles alcohol beverages produced by Ukrainian companies.

According to Ukrainian Economic News newspaper, vodka produced by Aleksanyan’s company resembles beverages produced by Ukrainian Alef Vinal company.

“This is not true. My company does not produce vodka which resembles Ukrainian brands. At the moment we stopped production of our Ukraine and Khortitsa vodkas,” businessman told Armenian News-NEWS.am. “We used to produce them and were fined, probably that is why they assume that we still produce those brands.” 

Aleksanyan said accusations of the Ukrainian side are illegal and his lawyers will work on the case. The Armenian businessman added that his company currently produces Beliy Lebed and Russkiy Myod brands.

Earlier marketing manager of the Ukrainian Global Spirits company Georgiy Mayorov said that vodka resembling Ukrainian labels is sold in Armenia.

The Armenian State Commission for Protection of Economic Competition fined Aleks Grig for AMD 2, 5 million for unfair competition in the Armenian market. However, the company is owned by National Assembly MP Samvel Aleksanyan which makes the problem more complicated, added Ukrainian producers.

Ukrainian deputy Economy Minister Valeriy Pyatnitskiy said they were working on the matter with the World Trade Organization.

“There are certain violations in Armenia and we have already appealed to the Armenian side. However, no agreement has been reached so far,” said Pyatnitskiy.