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Russia's food safety watchdog on Wednesday ordered the temporary closure of four McDonald's restaurants in Moscow, citing sanitary violations.
Against the backdrop of worsening ties between Russia and the U.S. over Ukraine, many have accused the watchdog's nationwide inspections of McDonald's branches of being politically motivated.
The watchdog itself has denied the allegations, however, and insists the checks are the result of customers' hygiene concerns.
The Moscow Times visited one of the affected McDonald's branches at Moscow's Manezh Square — now closed for 'technical reasons' — and, under the walls of the Kremlin, asked passers-by what they thought of the sudden closures.
Read the story:
Russia's Food Ban Strikes Its Own Consumers
Russia's food safety watchdog on Wednesday ordered the temporary closure of four McDonald's restaurants in Moscow, citing sanitary violations.
Against the backdrop of worsening ties between Russia and the U.S. over Ukraine, many have accused the watchdog's nationwide inspections of McDonald's branches of being politically motivated.
The watchdog itself has denied the allegations, however, and insists the checks are the result of customers' hygiene concerns.
The Moscow Times visited one of the affected McDonald's branches at Moscow's Manezh Square — now closed for 'technical reasons' — and, under the walls of the Kremlin, asked passers-by what they thought of the sudden closures.
Read the story:
Russia's Food Ban Strikes Its Own Consumers