MOSCOW, November 28. /TASS/. Russia has begun to supply grain free of charge to Africa, Special representative of the Russian President for the Middle East and African countries, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said at the Primakov Readings forum.

"As part of ensuring food security on the African continent, which is really of great interest to our African partners, the implementation of free supplies of Russian grain to a number of countries on the continent has begun," he said.

"Russian President Vladimir Putin named them [these states - TASS]: Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, CAR (Central African Republic - TASS), Eritrea and other African countries," he added.

The 9th International Scientific Expert Forum Primakov Readings is underway on November 27-28 in Moscow. Its theme is "Postglobalization Horizons." TASS is the general information partner of the conference.