MOSCOW, April 11 (RAPSI) – Investigative authorities of Russia have cancelled criminal proceedings against owner of the SPI Group Yuri Shefler, a defendant in the case of unlawful use of vodka trademarks, lawyer Alexander Asnis has told RAPSI.

According to Asnis, the proceedings were cancelled because of criminal amnesty. The court’s ruling concerning Shefler’s arrest in absentia was cancelled as well. Last few years the businessman lived in England.

The criminal case against the businessman was launched in 2002. He was charged with organizing a criminal group, murder threat to a representative of authority, unlawful business activity, unlawful use of a trademark, alcohol smuggling and money laundering. In 2012, most of the charges except for the illegal use of trademark were lifted.

Investigators believe that Shefler caused damage to Russia's Agriculture Ministry and Soyuzplodimport company, which received a right to use “Limonnaya”, “Sibirskaya” and “Russkaya” trademarks. The damage was estimated at 1.3 million rubles ($24,000).