Allan Saunderson is managing editor of Property Finance Europe and a contributor to GlobeSt.com.

SAMARA, RUSSIA-Sweden's giant furniture retailer Ikea is considering halting its expansion drive into Russia after running into trouble with unpredictable officialdom – although locals say the economic crisis may be as much of a factor as the local bureaucracy.

After opening 11 of its iconic stores in Russia over the last just nine years, Ikea hit a bump when officials in Samara in the Volga River region demanded a planned store be able to withstand near-hurricane-force winds, even though such violent weather is rare. Ikea was due to open the store in May but now says new demands make timing uncertain.

Another blow came when Russia's anti-trust watchdog began investigating the group for allegedly urging tenants at its mall near Moscow to use services of selected firms – an accusation it denies. "Every time there is some kind of inspection, new points come up, so one gets a feeling that someone somewhere does not like us," said Ikea Russia MD Per Kaufmann in a recent interview. "The Russian board today questions whether it's worthwhile to expand further. First we need to open up in Samara, then we will see."