Lukashenka Accuses Russia Of Breaking Customs-Union Rules

Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka (file photo)

Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has accused Russia of breaking their customs-union regulations by banning food shipments from Belarus to Russian markets.

Lukashenka told a government meeting on December 3 that Russia had broken "all of our agreements that we have achieved in the customs union."

Russia's agricultural-control agency banned imports of meat and dairy products from some 22 Belarusian plants and farms at the end of November, saying it found traces of harmful substances, including the virus that causes African swine fever.

But Lukashenka accused "some crooks in Russia" of trying to raise food prices on the Russian market by banning Belarusian products, which he said had kept prices low.

Russia's veterinary regulator, Rosselkhoznadzor, announced on December 3 that it may resume some imports of Belarusian meat, but warned that quality and safety controls would be "much tougher."

Based on reporting by Interfax and TASS