Russia's food safety watchdog said on Wednesday it is banning imports of certain types of alcohol from Ukraine, in a move that threatened to further escalate tension between the two countries.
"While conducting government supervision over the circulation of foodstuffs, on investigating vodka, beer and beer-related drinks there were identified repeated violations of legal requirements in the area of consumer rights," the agency said in a statement.
Rospotrebnadzor, the watchdog whose role is to protect Russian consumers, said it will ban from Friday imports of Obolon beer, beer-related drinks produced by SUN InBev Ukraine and spirits made by the Ukrainian Distribution Company.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.