Kalashnikov: Portman, don't ban my vodka'

by John Harrington

The 85-year-old Russian military hero Mikhail Kalashnikov, who created the famous AK-47 rifle, wrote a personal letter to the Portman Group urging them not to blacklist the vodka brand that bears his name, the Morning Advertiser has learnt.

Former Chancellor of the Exchequer Michael Portillo,the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce and a Russian business school also registered their opposition to plans to blacklist Kalashnikov Vodka.

The decision by Portman's Independent Complaints Panel (ICP) to blacklist Kalashnivok Vodka because of the name's association with violence, was slammed by its suppliers, who argued that Kalashnikov is a hero in Russia and the packaging had no military connections.

Mikhail Kalashnikov, honorary chairman of the Joint Stock Vodka Company, wroteto Portman in November last year, following the complaint from Alcohol Focus Scotland.

Kalashnikov wrote: "My choice of launching the vodka in London was a considered one and based, to a large extent, on the fact that when I was wounded in World War II, Britain and the Soviet Union were allies.

"I hope that the panel will understand my motivations behind this vodka and that those motivations are borne out in its design and substance."

The Russo-British Chamber of Commerce told Portman, in a letter in December, that action against the brand would be "a deep, inappropriate and inexcusable insult to the people and government of Russia".

Another letter from the Moscow International Higher Business School called the Joint Stock Vodka Company "a prime example of Anglo-Russian co-operation".

And Michael Portillo, who represents the Joint Stock Vodka Company's constituency of Kensington and Chelsea, also wrote to Portman in opposition to action against Kalashnikov Vodka.

David Poley, Portman's director of policy, said: "Everything that was sent to us was given careful consideration by the complaints panel."

Columnist and TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson also hit outat Portman's ruling against Kalashnikov Vodka.

In his regular column in The Sun, the outspoken Top Gear presenter wrote: "The do-gooders say the name Kalashnikov is synonymous withviolence, so does that mean we can't have stout in case it makes us want to be fat? And how should I respond when my kids say they want some Coke?"

l Letters ­ p15