Furniture giant Ikea has said that it intends to resume planning for expansion in Russia. The change of heart comes after the retailer won a two-year bureaucratic battle to open a mall in the southern city of Samara.

Head of Ikea Russia Per Kaufmann believes that the main stumbling blocks are now behind the  retailer and that local officials are starting to adhere more closely to the law. “Even though we have problems in Samara, we still have 12 stores here. Of course it’s difficult to do business here, but not impossible,” said Kaufmann.