MOSCOW, September 9 (RIA Novosti) - Numerous violations of intellectual property rights in Russia are a serious obstacle in talks on Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Russian Minister of Economic Development and Trade German Gref said Friday.
"Extensive infringement on the rights of foreign partners is a stumbling block to Russia's accession to the WTO," Gref said at the coordinating session of law enforcement officials on anti-piracy measures.
He said Russia was on the U.S.-compiled list of observed countries in which mass violations of proprietary rights had been registered.
Gref said sanctions against such countries could reach $1 billion.
