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Bashkortostan Officials to Get Sanctioned Cheese and Fancy Whiskey

The Bashkortostan regional government is looking to award a $76,000 contract to catering agencies that can provide sanctioned Western cheeses at official functions next year.

According to the terms of the contract, caterers should be able to serve Camembert, Maasdam and mascarpone cheeses at official banquets in the southern Russian region, documents on the government's state procurement website show.

European cheeses have been off the menu for most ordinary Russians since August, when the country enacted a sweeping ban on Western food imports in response to sanctions against Moscow for its policy on Ukraine.

In addition to providing a well-stocked cheese board, caterers should be able to serve whisky that is "no less than 18 years old," as well as local delicacies such as horse meat baked in vine leaves, the documents show.

Caterers have until Jan. 12 to apply for the tender.

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