Russian Federation destroys tonnes of illegal food imports at its border

But smugglers found ways to sneak the delicious contraband across the border despite Russian President Vladimir Putin’s August.

“I want to appeal to President Putin lest he walk in the footsteps of his predecessors from the Soviet Union, especially from the 1930s, and not destroy food”. He also said that, as part of Russian government plans, orders are being placed with leading domestic companies in the field of electronics and software for the design of devices of domestic origin that could partially replace their Western analogues.

Undeterred, one high-ranking government official, Dmitry Chugunov, approved the idea of stiff jail sentences for food smugglers, saying: “If we don’t kick this food addiction, we will never learn to build worthy cheese factories for ourselves”. Some commentators favour the presidential decree which makes it mandatory to destroy embargoed western food products caught at the border or in stores, while others have sought that the confiscated foodstuffs be distributed in schools, orphanages and other welfare institutions.

“Sanctions have led to a major rise in food prices on Russian shelves”.

The petition argues that destroying the goods results in a double whammy for Russia’s poor as not only do prices of food remain high, but the government must invest further funds in destroying imported food.

The ban on commercial food imports is hurting both sides.

Russian officials have framed the embargo as an opportunity for domestic farmers to increase their share of the market and put more food on the nation’s tables.

The food ban is only the most prominent trade restriction Russian Federation has introduced in retaliation for western sanctions. It does not specify methods but says the process should be carried out “by any available means” and videotaped, apparently to prevent corrupt officials from simply helping themselves and holding a feast. Speaking to RIA Novosti he said the Kremlin was aware of the initiative, however he dismissed it due to the lack of verification that the signatures are those of Russian citizens or even genuine individuals.

One truck driver carrying a cargo of suspicious tomatoes turned his vehicle around and made a getaway back into Belarus to avoid them being destroyed, food safety agency Rosselkhoznadzor said.

It said that the Federal Customs Service was not ready for joint work.

Since the decree went into effect, Russian state television has been demonstrating how cheese, fruit and meat were being incinerated and bulldozed into the ground.

Oysters and mussels were taken off the list, but certain provisions were added that completely excluded the import of any of cheeses or lactose-free products, except those vital for people suffering from lactose insufficiency and registered as medicinal and dietary products.

Meanwhile, a petition on Change.org has been started challenging the ban. But the Kremlin has hit a raw nerve with many Russians.