Russia has ordered the temporary closure of four McDonald’s restaurants across Moscow.<br /><br />The decision comes after visits from food safety officers who allege “sanitary violations” are to blame for the closures. <br /><br />Many people suspect that the move is some sort of political statement related to the tit-for-tat sanctions war between Russia and the West.<br /><br />“Well I do not know, actually this McDonald’s is Russian,” said one man. “This step is too much. There is no connection to America. It’s been a Russian-speaking, Russian McDonalds for a long time. This is not a policital issue. There must be something wrong with it.”<br /><br />Another man said: “They occasionally hit us with different sanctions. Why can’t we do something in return? McDonald’s is a symbol of everything Western. I think this is a good symbolic step that shows we have some guts.”<br /><br />Russia has banned imports of many Western foods in retaliation for sanctions over the Ukraine crisis.<br /><br />That’s hurting ordinary Russians by pushing up prices and causing shortages of some goods.<br /><br />McDonalds employs over 35,000 workers in more than 400 restaurants across Russia.
