BLAGOVESHCHENSK, September 10 - RAPSI. The Amur Regional Commercial Court has refused to satisfy Baltika Brewery's lawsuit to invalidate Governor Oleg Kozhemyako's resolution limiting alcohol retail sales, the court told RIA Novosti Monday.

At the hearing on August 1, the governor's representative said the resolution was amended on July 28, and filed a motion to postpone the trial to allow the plaintiff time to clarify its claims.

On September 3, the case was postponed once again because the plaintiff's representative failed to attend the hearing.

Baltika challenged Kozhemyako's April 23 resolution banning retail liquor sales within a 700 meter radius of military facilities as of July 1. Draft beer sales were also prohibited in outlets located in apartment buildings.

The company claims the resolution contradicts the law governing the state regulation of alcoholic beverage production and trade and competition law. Specifically, Baltika found to be illegal the provision, pursuant to which selling beer in residential buildings has been prohibited.

Baltika manages 11 breweries in Russia and one in Azerbaijan. It owns over 40 brands and exports products to 70 countries. The brewery accounts for about 70 percent of Russia's beer exports. Carlsberg is Baltika's primary owner.

Margarita Suzdaltseva, the commercial court's representative, told RIA Novosti that Baltika said during the hearing that the enterprise was losing profits due to the resolution, which the company deems illegal. However, the court found that the governor's resolution does not contradict federal law, which is why the plaintiff's claims were dismissed, Suzdaltseva said.

Pursuant to a new act, retail alcohol sales have been banned within a range of no less than 100 meters from military facilities in cities and 25 meters in rural areas. Retail draught beer sales have also been banned in trade facilities located in multi-apartment houses.