MOSCOW – Russia says it is considering banning imports of cut flowers from The Netherlands, a move that would aggravate tensions between the two countries already at odds over the downing of flight MH17.
National veterinary agency Rosselkhoznadzor said Monday it has urged the European Union's organization for plant protection to review certification for Dutch flower exports to Russia.
Rosselkhoznadzor official Alexei Alexeenko denied earlier reports that a ban is already in place, state news agency RIA Novosti said.
The reports said the agency is concerned about quarantined organisms. Russia has often been accused of using sanitary issues as a pretext for politically motivated bans.
Russia opposes a Dutch-supported call for a criminal tribune on the 2014 downing of a Malaysia Airlines flight over eastern Ukraine controlled by Russia-backed rebels.
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