Russian court lets local brewer use Carlsberg brands despite Danish firm's exit

Dec 18 (Reuters) - A Russian court on Monday found that Russia's second-largest brewer, Baltika, could continue to use Carlsberg (CARLb.CO) brands even though the Danish brewer has been stripped of control of the firm and revoked Baltika's licences.

Moscow took control of Carlsberg's stake in July, taking Baltika under "temporary management". That prompted CEO Jacob Aarup-Andersen to say Carlsberg's business had been stolen and that his firm would not do any deal to make the seizure look legitimate.

Baltika then sued Carlsberg in Russia for the right to continue using the trademarks, and the arbitration court of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region on Monday ruled in Baltika's favour, the Interfax news agency reported.

"The claim is satisfied in full," it quoted a court document as saying.

A month ago, Denis Sherstennikov and Anton Rogachevsky, Baltika's CEO and vice president, were arrested on suspicion of fraud, accused of transferring some intellectual property rights to Carlsberg illegally as Russia assumed control. Carlsberg said its employes were innocent.

The affair has underlined how difficult it is for Western companies hampered by, or uncomfortable with, the fallout from Moscow's war in Ukraine to extricate themselves from Russia.