Sales of “K-13” energy drinks have begun in Chechnya. The brand is unofficially associated with people linked to Adam Kadyrov, the son of the republic’s head, according to Kavkazsky Uzel and Verstka.
Last week, Ramzan Kadyrov’s Telegram channel published a video from the opening of the Vkusdom hypermarket in Grozny. In the footage, the republic’s head drinks a “K-13” beverage, while Chechnya’s Prime Minister Magomed Daudov calls it “the best energy drink.”
The Telegram channel “ChP Chechnya” posted an excerpt from the video. In the comments, subscribers left many ironic remarks about State Duma deputy Biysultan Khamzaev. Earlier, he had criticized millionaire bloggers who helped residents of Dagestan affected by flooding and accused them of chasing hype. He also separately criticized Mikhail Litvin for advertising energy drinks. Those comments were later deleted.
In addition, Ramzan Kadyrov himself described energy drinks in 2012 as “intoxicating substances” unacceptable for Muslim society. Chechnya’s parliament introduced fines for selling energy drinks, but in 2018 it eased that ban.
Verstka reports that production and distribution of the drink will be handled by a Kadyrov proxy. An application to register the drink’s trademark was filed in March by United Company, which had been established a month earlier.