Russia Bans English in Store Banner Advertising

(Moscow, Russia) This seems to be an unreasonable restraint on businesses.

The Federal Anti-Monopoly Service has opened investigations into a chain of fast-food restaurants, a cafe and a sportswear store, all of which face fines for using English words in their advertising banners.

The companies targeted include Yaposhka-City, which owns Yaposha, a chain of Japanese fast-food restaurants; Trade Retail, owner of Bogner sportswear store; and Potential, owner of Bar BQ Cafe, the Moscow branch of the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service said in a statement Monday.

Yaposha faces punishment over a banner reading “Happy New Menu,” which only had the last word — Menu — in Russian. Trade Retail’s English-language banner read “Bogner New Collection,” and Potential’s October advertisement for Bar BQ Cafe used the English word “Halloween.”

Federal law bans the use of foreign words in advertising. The companies face fines of 100,000 to 500,000 rubles ($3,250 to $16,250), a spokeswoman for the anti-monopoly service told The St. Petersburg Times.

Also, why only English?