And it seems that only in Russia could both be turned into fodder for the political machine.

Yes, Sigmund Romberg did write an operetta in which a good deal of beer was guzzled, but that was all in good fun. This is big business . . . and politics, of course.

First, the beer. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, numerous Western companies pulled out of Russia in protest, some selling their assets to local buyers, others just shutting down and taking their losses. Relatively few stayed, and later found themselves under “temporary management” in accordance with a decree issued by Vladimir Putin in April of 2023, which grants the Russian manager full control of the assets (with the exception of being able to dispose of them).

In addition, Putin has made it more difficult for the remaining companies to exit by seizing their subsidiaries and requiring the companies to sell at below-value prices. [RFE/RL, December 30, 2024.]

And now Belgian brewing company AB InBev Efes Russia (AB InBev) finds itself in just such an untenable position. In a joint venture with Anadolu Efes of Turkey, the Russian company was launched in 2018. AB InBev originally had wanted to sell control of both its Russian and Ukrainian operations to Anadolu Efes, but they were unable to overcome Russia’s objections to the plan.

Accordingly, in October of this year, the two JV partners agreed to swap stakes in their businesses in Russia and Ukraine, whereby the Turkish brewer would become sole owner of the Russian business, while the Belgian company, AB InBev, would acquire the Ukrainian share.

Finally, under a further decree signed by Putin on December 30th, all of the shares of AB InBev Efes Russia have been transferred to the “temporary management” of a Russian group of companies called Vmeste — an organization created in August of 2024. [Id.]

Other brewing companies that remained in Russia are now finding themselves in similar situations, including Heineken (Dutch) and Carlsberg (Danish).

All of which demonstrates one way in which Russia has continued to finance its “special military operation” in Ukraine despite multi-national sanctions: If something is making a profit, just seize it.

*. *. *

And what does opera have to do with the beer industry? Absolutely nothing. But — like brewing — neither should it have anything to do with politics; yet, in Russia, it does.

During Soviet times, it was a given that any Russian company touring outside the country — whether opera, ballet, folk dancing, or sports team — would be accompanied and heavily guarded by its own cadre of KGB agents to prevent defections.

That is supposed to have changed by now. Yet Russian soprano Anna Netrebko has been taught otherwise.

At the time of the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Netrebko was scheduled to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. In support of Ukraine, the general manager of the Met, Peter Gelb, demanded that she publicly distance herself from President Vladimir Putin before being allowed to perform in his venue. [RFE/RL, December 30, 2024.]

Caught between the proverbial rock and hard place, Netrebko issued a statement on Facebook condemning the war in Ukraine, and saying that her thoughts were with the victims of the war and their families, and that she was “not a member of any political party, nor am I allied with any leader of Russia.” [Id.]

Clearly, that would not have made Vladimir Putin or any of his minions particularly happy. An upcoming Netrebko concert, scheduled in Novosibirsk (Siberia) in June of 2022, was canceled, the theater accusing her of choosing European stages over her “Motherland’s fate” in making the statement.

She subsequently sued the Met and Peter Gelb for defamation, breach of contract, and everything else she could think of, inexplicably including gender discrimination. A U.S. judge has dismissed most of her claims . . . except, oddly, the last one.

And now Ms. Netrebko has had to withdraw from her scheduled appearance at the Vienna State Opera, saying that ill health earlier in the month had limited her preparation time.

When in Russia, you don’t speak against Putin’s policies . . . and especially not against the war in Ukraine. In fact, you don’t even call it a “war” — not if you value your career, your freedom, and your life. The theater operators in Novosibirsk who condemned her for choosing Europe over Russia may not have made the moral choice; but they were not incorrect, because that is exactly what she did. And now it has cost her dearly.

*. *. *

So from beer, to opera, to the number of children in a family (the subject of a couple of my earlier posts), nothing escapes Vladimir Putin’s attention, and no miscreant escapes punishment. He needn’t even concern himself with justification or evidence; he simply signs another decree to cover the situation.

Justice in Russia: the ultimate oxymoron.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
1/2/25