Russia remains a priority country

LONDON, UK (IFPI STATEMENT) - In response to a recent public report of comments apparently made by a Russian government official that suggest the country has been dropped from IFPI's priority list IFPI Chairman and CEO John Kennedy said:

"Russia remains one of IFPI's top ten priority countries. While IFPI would obviously welcome any increase in Russia's anti-piracy enforcement activity, there has been little action taken thus far in response to a very grave problem. IFPI calls upon the Russian government to take immediate steps to address the activities of major criminal enterprises operating in its territory.

"We hope that Russia will indeed conform to international standards and we can drop it from our priority lists, but there has been scant evidence that we are moving in that direction.

"The international recording industry will continue to lobby the Russian government to fulfil its international copyright obligations and act decisively against the country's continuing high level of optical disc piracy."

For further information please contact Fiona Harley, IFPI Communications on tel. +44 (0)20 7878 7900