It would be difficult to find a traditional Georgian product not attempted to be misappropriated and passed off as "indigenous Armenian" by the representatives of the neighbouring "the most ancient nation". In Armenia, Georgian wines (Saperavi, Kakheti, etc.), Georgian products such as churkhela, sulguni, khachapuri and many others have been declared "Armenian".

 The traditional Georgian lactic acid product - matsoni - is no exception. It has been called "Armenian matsun" and is sold under that name both in Armenia itself and in Russia.

In the meantime, Georgia has registered "matsoni" as its Geographical Indication, a GI is a name or mark used on products that corresponds to a specific geographical location or place of origin. Therefore, for example, "cognac" may carry a product manufactured only in France, but "matsoni" is a product manufactured in Georgia.

For a long time, the Georgian authorities turned a blind eye to its neighbours' impudent appropriation of Georgian intangible heritage. As a result, Armenian businessmen profited from exporting the product with the appropriated name through Georgia. In particular, the Armenian company Marianna exported "matsun" to the Russian Federation market. And so, it was finally decided to put a stop to this practice. In August-September 2021, Armenian "matsun" was detained at Georgian customs and not allowed into Russia.

Instead of "matzun" for export, from September-October 2021 Marianna company writes "Armenian mountain yoghurt" on its products exported to Russia through Georgia. Which is appropriation of alien name, since the word "yoghurt" is Turkish. However, the Armenians, of course, do not and cannot have their own original name for these foreign products, since their "ancient Armenian cuisine" is nothing else but appropriated Turkic and Georgian dishes and products which are presented as "originally Armenian".

The Armenian Ministry of Economy is clearly unhappy that misappropriation and falsification outside of Armenia has begun to be combated and is trying to "defend the Armenian right to misappropriate someone else's".

" As far back as 2011, Armenia's authorised intellectual property body filed an objection to the registration of the name "matsun" with the relevant authorities of the European Union and Georgia, arguing that the name could be confused with "matsun", which is produced in Armenia. However, the objection was not taken into account," complained Gayane Antonyan, press secretary of the Armenian Minister of Economy.

In Armenia itself, "Armenian matsun" is still sold. Moreover, "Armenian matsun" continues to be produced by some producers in Russia, usually by enterprises registered in Russia and controlled by representatives of the "most ancient people. Thus, international legislation is being flagrantly violated. Georgia still has a serious fight against Armenian misappropriation and falsification.

Being registered as a Georgian product and having a protected geographical name for a long time now gives Georgia the opportunity to defend its rights to its own intangible heritage. As for the counterfeiters who continue to illegally sell "matsun" in Russia and other countries, Georgia is fully entitled to take legal action against them and prohibit such practices.

Kavkazplus