In Russia, polish pears and French cheese are well finished

LETTER FROM MOSCOW

Sanctions, counter-sanctions, the debate regularly animates the Russian scene. On a visit to Moscow on 17 October, Italy's interior minister, Matteo Salvini, also leader of the far-right wing of the League, was not afraid to denounce a "Economic, social and cultural madness" before an audience of Russian and transalpine business leaders conquered. Then, the next day, during the meeting of the Valdai club in Sochi, on the shores of the Black Sea, Vladimir Putin had for many minutes discussed "cheese" with a Russian business leader haunted by the prospect of seeing all his efforts and its investments to produce "made in Russia" ruined if by chance sanctions / counter-sanctions were to be lifted.

Applied since 2014 in retaliation for the annexation of Crimea by Russia and the deadly conflict in eastern Ukraine between pro-Russian separatists and Kiev forces, Western sanctions have in turn generated a long list of agro-food products banned from Russia. An ulok of Vladimir Putin published in July 2015 had subsequently condemned them to be destroyed if, despite the embargo, illegal shipments managed to cross borders.

Since then, more than 26 400 tonnes of vegetables, fruit, meat and dairy products – livestock products alone representing 999 tonnes – have been crushed, milled and rolled by construction machinery, according to the latest report published by Rosselkhoznadzor , the Russian organization responsible for controlling agribusiness.

A "Big lot" – one of the largest catches to date – recently added to the list: on October 12, 5.5 tons of forbidden food was discovered during an inspection in a warehouse in Moscow. Including 72 varieties of cheese of various origins (British, Danish, Italian, Spanish, French and Dutch), ie 3.9 tonnes; 30 varieties of sausages …