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Gov. Spencer Cox bans Russian-branded products from state liquor stores in executive order

According to a news release, all Russia-produced and Russian-branded products will be removed from DABC store shelves until the order is rescinded.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Liquor control stoppers called Bergs on new bottles on Friday, Jan. 28, 2022 at Lake Effect cocktail bar in downtown Salt Lake City. On Feb. 26, Gov. Spencer Cox ordered the removal of all Russian-branded products from state liquor stores in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Gov. Spencer Cox issued an executive order on Saturday to remove all Russian-produced and Russian-branded products from state liquor stores.

The executive order will also require the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity to review state procurements for any other economic relationships with Russia, according to a news release from the governor’s office.

Russia launched its attack on the Eastern European country early Thursday, and the governor condemned the attack in a Tweet posted from his official account earlier this week.

“Russia’s ruthless attack on a sovereign nation is an egregious violation of human rights,” Cox said in the release. “Utah stands in solidarity with Ukraine and will not support Russian enterprises, no matter how small the exchange.”

According to the order, Utah will take “whatever measures possible” to support the people of Ukraine, and Russian-branded products will not return to state liquor stores until the order is rescinded.