Russia has established supplies from Afghanistan, controlled by the Islamist terrorist group Taliban, of carbonated drinks and energy drinks, including Coca-Cola, which left Russia after the war in Ukraine began, as well as spices, precious stones and raw materials for metallurgy. This was stated in an interview with RIA Novosti by the Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan Dmitry Zhirnov.
“Russia buys Afghan spices, carbonated and energy drinks, medicinal herbs – lavender, thyme, licorice. And cauldrons, of course, for pilaf,” he said.
According to Zhirnov, Afghanistan’s first export items to Russia are dried fruits and raisins. Russia also buys vegetables and grapes, but so far in small quantities. In addition, supplies of pomegranates from the southern regions of Afghanistan, as well as Afghan saffron, have begun. The Taliban have also established the export of chrome ores and concentrates, minerals, rubies and emeralds to Russia. “This is about a sixth of the import,” the ambassador specified.
You can already find original Coca-Cola products from Afghanistan on Russian marketplaces. For example, a set of nine cans of the drink, 300 ml each, is sold for almost 700 rubles. As RIA Novosti specifies, the first Coca-Cola plant in the country began operating back in 2006. It was opened by former Afghan President Hamid Karzai. The enterprise, which produced up to 120 million bottles of carbonated drinks per year, was owned by the local company Habib Gulzar Non-Alcoholic Beverages Ltd.
After the invasion of Ukraine, The Coca-Cola Company decided to wind up its business in Russia and stopped the production and sale of drinks under its brands.