The Arbitration Court of the Moscow Region is preparing to review a claim seeking to invalidate a 12.9 billion ruble asset transfer from the Russian company IKEA Torg LLC (Ingka Holding) to Fami Limited (Ireland), a subsidiary of the Ingka Group that oversees the IKEA brand. This information was reported by Kommersant.
The case was filed by the Interregional Inspectorate of the Federal Tax Service No. 1, and the court hearing is scheduled for March 5 of this year.
The plaintiff asks the court to request documents supporting the position, while the defendant is expected to provide a credit line agreement, materials related to the supply contract with Market Trade LLC (the founder of which is Yandex LLC), and all documents necessary to verify the financial transactions connected with the deal.
A source familiar with the agreement’s details notes that only one defendant is named in the court decision, yet there are at least two parties involved in the transaction on the record.
After the onset of military actions in Ukraine, IKEA stores in Russia suspended operations temporarily. Subsequently, Yandex Market began selling the remaining products by purchasing them from IKEA.
Industry specialists consulted by the publication believe that tax authorities identified a potential violation wherein payments were directed to a foreign entity, effectively bypassing IKEA’s Russian subsidiary.
Previous statements from the government urged restraint in anticipation of possible optimistic conclusions.
Note on the procedural context
The case centers on whether the financial movements around the asset transfer complied with Russian corporate and tax regulations, and whether the involvement of Fami Limited abroad affected the legal treatment of the transaction. The court’s examination will likely focus on the documentation of funds flow, the ownership structure used in the transfer, and the role of the related entities in the chain of payments. The outcome could have implications for how cross-border ownership and intercompany settlements are treated within the framework of Russian tax and corporate law, as observed by industry observers [Kommersant, summary of sources].
The timeline for the proceedings has been set by the court, with a docket that places the March hearing in the near term. If the court rules on the validity of the transaction, it could trigger additional steps, including the potential revaluation of the transfer terms or the possible return of assets to the original holder, depending on the court’s interpretation of the assets’ control and the legality of the payment route [Kommersant, context notes].
Analysts emphasize that the dispute is part of broader questions about how multinational retail groups manage operations during periods of geopolitical complexity, and how these moves align with local regulatory requirements. The situation also highlights the balance that Russian authorities seek between enforcing tax rules and managing foreign-brand retail activity within the domestic market [Kommersant, expert comments].