Russian Organization Sues Vladimir Putin For Destroying Food Imports

A Russian organization is suing Vladimir Putin for destroying imported Western food.

The Society for Protecting the Rights of the Consumer (OZPP) filed a complaint with Russia's High Court to repeal Putin's order to destroy these foods, according to Newsweek. A spokesperson from the OZPP told Interfax, "Providing consumers with high quality and safe agricultural produce, cheese and other food products, irrespective of their country of origin, cannot in any way pose a risk or danger to Russia's food security."

Putin ordered all illegally imported Western foods to be burned last month, following Russia's ban on these foods in 2014. However, Russia's president made an exception for caviar.

Russia's Communist Party proposed a draft law last week to turn the banned foods into state property. They suggested that the state distribute them to refugees and low-income citizens.

"OZPP hopes that the High Court, in looking at this issue, will be guided only by the rule of law," OZPP's spokesperson told Interfax, "not out of concern for political aims and take the decision to fulfill our request."