Over Six Million Fake Cigarettes Destroyed
by Law Enforcement Authorities

DOMODEDOVO, RUSSIA — Russian law enforcement authorities today destroyed over six million fake cigarettes seized in a nearby warehouse in suburban Moscow in late 2002.

The fake cigarettes were destined for export to international markets, according to law enforcement officials.

"Today's event is yet another sign of the commitment by Russian law enforcement to combat international counterfeiting," said Tom Thomson, Vice President, Coalition for International Property Rights (CIPR).

"In the past six months, Russian law enforcement authorities have pro-actively undertaken several anti-counterfeiting operations, including the public destruction of over 40 million fake cigarettes seized in a factory near Ryazan last October and last December's police raid on a counterfeit cigarette factory in Southern Russia," added Thomson.

Russian law enforcement authorities cited the cooperation with the private sector as essential to fighting counterfeiters. "Ongoing cooperation between law enforcement and with the infringed brandholder, Philip Morris, was a key factor leading to the successful seizure and today's destruction of 6 million fake cigarettes," said Alexander Vorobiev, Head of the Press Service, RF Ministry of Internal Affairs, Economic Crimes Unit.

Vorobiev continued: "We have several ongoing investigations of counterfeit cigarette production and distribution operations, including one related to today's action. We plan to keep the pressure on and put the criminals behind these crimes out of business."

"CIPR is encouraged by today's destruction event, and will closely follow the ongoing enforcement process to its conclusion," said Thomson. "While recent law enforcement actions have reduced the incidence of counterfeit cigarettes in Russia , there are still indications that several production facilities exist, dedicated to "export markets", and we ask that law enforcement remain vigilant".

To give law enforcement additional legal clout, CIPR and a coalition of brand holders, business and professional groups and IP advocacy groups have provided recommendations for a package of legislative amendments and public education to protect consumers from counterfeit goods.

"The recommendations on 'Civil and Criminal Mechanisms to Protect the Consumer Market Against Counterfeit and Fake Goods' were approved by the State Duma Committee on Civil, Criminal, Arbitrary and Procedural Legislation, and have been submitted to the Presidential Administration and all relevant federal agencies," said Olga Barannikova, CIPR Russia Representative.

"Combating counterfeiters requires strong laws and political will to ensure the laws are enforced. These recommendations will play an important role in helping law enforcement authorities and reassuring consumers and IP owners that Russia is serious about addressing the problem of fake goods," added Barannikova.

The combination of stronger laws and today's enforcement action underscores why a comprehensive approach is so vital to bringing to justice the criminals behind the production of these fake cigarettes and of other product counterfeits," concluded Thomson.

The Coalition for Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR) is private-public partnership dedicated solely to advancing intellectual property rights protection and reform in Russia , the Baltic States and CIS countries. Through research, education, legislative initiatives, coalition building and legal, judicial and regulatory reforms, CIPR assists governments and businesses in the region to establish transparent and non-discriminatory IPR regimes and to adhere to international standards. CIPR members include several of the world's most famous trademark owners in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, fashion, computer and tobacco industries, and enjoys broad support by government trademark regulators and enforcement officials throughout the region.