The Russian Federation has sent a request to the Dispute Settlement Body of the World Trade Organization (WTO) for consultations in connection with Ukrainian sanctions imposed against Russia, according to Russia`s Economic Development Minister Maxim Oreshkin, TASS reports.
”Russia`s representation to the WTO in Geneva has sent to the WTO`s Dispute Settlement Body and the government of Ukraine a request for consultations in connection with the permanently imposed restrictions, starting 2014, as well as prohibitions, special requirements and procedures for Russian goods, services and persons on the Ukrainian market, and also with regard to transit through Ukraine,” TASS quotes Oreshkin as saying.
The comprehensive claim Russia has filed with the WTO relates not only to restrictions on the supply of food and non-food products but also to the ban on accreditation of the Russian media.
”We are talking about bans on imports of meat and dairy products, as well as fish, wine, vodka, railway equipment, fertilizers, and many other goods from Russia … We also classify restrictions on operations with the Ukrainian currency and prohibition on the accreditation of journalists from Russia`s news agencies and other media,” he said.
Oreshkin noted that there is a reason to believe that Ukraine imposes sanctions against Russia ”in violation of its obligations to the WTO.”
Earlier, on May 16, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, by his decree, has enacted a resolution dated April 28 of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine on the application of personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions).
