Belarus checks Russia food watchdog officials for lie dissemination

MINSK, Feb 7 (PRIME) -- The Belorussian Interior Ministry is checking officials of Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Oversight for alleged distribution of untrue information to discredit Belarusian food producers, the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

The ministry said it has information that some of the officials restricted the right of Belarusian producers to sell their products in Russia with interest lying beyond their professional activities, without reasonable grounds and in violation of international law. Only in the Minsk Region, the service blocked delivery from 96 agricultural companies, which incurred a loss of U.S. $2.5 million.

“A thorough investigation will be done in each case, and evidence will be transferred to the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Belarus for legal evaluation,” the ministry said.

Previously, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko offered to launch a legal case against the service’s Director Sergei Dankvert for blocking supplies of Belarusian food to Russia. The Kremlin said it was baffled with the plan, while the service said that all restrictions were imposed in line with international norms.

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