Russia shuts down several Moscow McDonald's, claims it has nothing to do with Ukraine

Russia shuts down several Moscow McDonald&#039;s, claims it has nothing to do with Ukraine

(Image credit: CC by: Rich Bowen)

last updated 8 January 2015

The Russian consumer protection agency Rospotrebnadzor closed down at least four McDonald's in Moscow on Wednesday, saying it found multiple, undisclosed sanitary violations. Among those suspended is the symbolically important Golden Arches in Pushkin Square, the first McDonald's in Russia, opened in January 1990, about two years before the collapse of the Soviet Union.

McDonald's gets all its ingredients for its 438 Russian locations in Russia, so it isn't affected by the recent ban on Western agricultural products. Finding health violations at a McDonald's isn't totally implausible, but this move against the iconic American brand is being widely interpreted as a symbolic slap against the U.S. for its support of Ukraine in its tussle with Russia and pro-Moscow separatists.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.

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