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Belarusian leader orders criminal probe against Russian agriculture watchdog head

Russia's agriculture watchdog says it is not concerned about Lukashenko’s request

Russian agriculture watchdog head Sergey Dankvert Valeriy Sharifulin/TASS

Russian agriculture watchdog head Sergey Dankvert

© Valeriy Sharifulin/TASS

MOSCOW, February 3. /TASS/. Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko said he has instructed the Interior Ministry to initiate criminal proceedings against the head of the Rosselkhoznadzor (Russian agriculture watchdog) Sergey Dankvert for "doing damage to the state".

Lukashenko voiced the request concerning Dankvert he gave to head of the Interior Ministry Igor Shunevich at a press conference on Friday.

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"We need to study this issue and to launch criminal proceedings against Dankvert for causing damage to the state," the President said.

He recalled the case of the former head of Uralkali Vladislav Baumgertner, who spent three months in Belarus under arrest on charges of abuse of office.

"When he (Dankvert - TASS) stays in our detention facility for a while, he will become aware of the decisions he took," Lukashenko said.

Two months ago Lukashenko harshly criticized the Russian agriculture watchdog and his head over Russia’s claims to Belarusian food products.

According to Lukashenko such officials as Dankvert tend "to slam everything even if everything goes well."

Russia's response

Russia’s veterinary and phytosanitary service Rosselkhoznadzor is not concerned about Belarusian President’s request, official spokesperson for Rosselkhoznadzor Yuliya Melano told TASS on Friday.

"Rosselkhoznadzor is not concerned about the actions of Belarusian head, Mr Lukashenko. For our part it should be noted that Rosselkhoznadzor’s restrictions and bans on imports of certain batches of products from Belarus were in accordance with the existing Russian and international legislation," she said.

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