Zoran Vucinic said Coca-Cola had invested $1.8 billion in Russia since the launch of its operations in the country in the late 1980s.

Vucinic said the company could afford to conduct an aggressive policy on the Russian market as it had a healthy financial base in the United States.

He also said the company was selling brands, not goods, and that during a financial crisis people were more likely to choose familiar products.

Coca-Cola Company, the world's largest producer of soft drinks and beverage products, was established in the U.S. city of Atlanta in 1892. The company does business in over 200 countries.