Russian consumer worse off

The majority of Russians are noticing that prices for fruit, vegetables and meat have increased, according to research done by Itar-Tass. Respondents indicated they are spending more money on these foods. Not only do consumers notice a downside to the boycott due to prices in supermarkets, products on the shelves have also changed. Belgian newspaper De Standaard visited a Russian supermarket, and found a stripped assortment of meat. It is also difficult for industry, Russian companies invested too little, and cannot compete with Western techniques.

According to the Russian static service, the consumer price index has increased by six per cent in the past 12 months. Economic indicators are also still in the red. October experienced a decrease of 4.4 per cent in retail sales.

According to the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mevlut Cavusoglu, the current crisis between Russia and Turkey indicates that the two countries are important to each other. In an interview, he pointed out that Russia is the most important supplier of energy to Turkey. In its turn, Turkey could be an important supplier of fruit and vegetables for Russia, according to the minister. By saying so, the Turkish minister ignored the Russian agenda, which is devoted to becoming self-supporting, regarding food. At another website, Yekatarina Chulkovkaya states that the Russians are not making haste in lifting the sanctions, because the country can also import these products from Central Asian countries. Besides, the boycott of, for example, Turkish tomatoes encourages Russian tomato cultivators.