15 to 17 percent of Russian market consists of counterfeits
Law enforcement officials estimates that the counterfeit goods account for 15 to 17 percent of the Russian market.
Source: “Import of counterfeit goods up four-fold in Russia in 2006,” RIA Novosti, April 25, 2007,(accessed: April 26, 2007).
US lost $2.1 billion in 2006 due to copyright piracy in Russia
The United States copyright industries has estimated that they have lost in excess of $2.1 billion in 2006 due to copyright piracy in Russia.
Source: Office of United States Trade Representative, “2007 Special 301 Report,” April 30, 2007, pg. 23.
$400 million pirated discs sold in Russia in 2006
With two-thirds of the music CDs in Russia being pirated, an estimated $400 million worth of pirated discs were sold in Russia in 2006.
Source: Associated Press, “Russia urged to tackle music piracy, economy minister says no quick fix,” International Herald Tribune, April 17, 2007,(accessed: April 18, 2007).
5 to 6 million drug users in Russia in 2006
Source: 2007 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, “Europe and Central Asia: Russia,” United States Department of State, (accessed: March 2, 2007).
950 Russian criminal groups invovled in drug trade in 2004
An estimated 950 criminal groups were involved in the illegal drug trade in 2004.
Source: Louis Shelly, “The Drug Trade in Contemporary Russia,” China and Eurasia Forum Quarterly, Vol. 4, No. 1 (2006), pg. 15-20.
Why the AK-47 is counterfeited
According to Larry Kahaner, author of AK-47:The Weapon That Changed The Face Of War, unlicensed production of AK-47s stems from the fact that the inventor of the AK-47 Mikhail Kalashnikov “never patented the rifle’s design - the thought had never occurred to him or anyone else under the Soviet regime.”
Source: Larry Kahaner, AK-47: The Weapon [...]
Russia only accounts for 10 to 12 percent of AK-47 sales
Around 100 million Ak-47s are circulating around the world, with 47 national armies utilizing the weapon. Russia has stated that it only accounts for 10 to 12 percent of the sales of the weapon, with the rest being unlicensed and counterfeit copies.
Source: RIA Novosti, “Russia set to crack down on unlicensed arms production abroad,” Russian [...]
Counterfeit drugs comprise 3.5 to 12 percent of market in Russia
In Russia, counterfeit drugs comprise of 3.5 percent to 12 percent of the total pharmaceutical drug market. Some experts believe it to be as high as 20 percent in the year 2005.
Source: “Fake medications inundate the Russian pharmaceutical market”, Pravda, May 4, 2005,(date accessed: May 4, 2005).
Russian gangs smuggle $4,450 per kilo of caviar
The Associated Press reported that “Russian crime gangs smuggle beluga caviar in suitcases, fetching $4,450 per kilogram in the retail market.”
Source: Associated Press, ” Crime syndicates smuggling wildlife,” Yahoo News, June 7, 2007.
20 to 30 percent of all cigarettes consumed in Russia are smuggled
Source: Jennifer M. Freedman, “Governments Trying to Battle Illegal Tobacco Trade,” Bloomberg News, February 12, 2008,(accessed: February 12, 2008).
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