Bravo Madam's video: Dangerous way to Russia

All about the sanctions war Twitter http://twitter.com/bravomadam Tumblr http://bravomadam.tumblr.com/ Facebook http://facebook.com/bravomadamcom Google+ http://google.com/+BravoMadam/ More video on Youtube Bravo Madam Russia's Sanctions War Against the West Explained Russia has taken on the United States and Europe in a sanctions war, which has recently spilled into some decidedly odd public stunts: bulldozed cheese, burned fruit, even euthanized ducklings. NBC News' Moscow-based producer Alexey Eremenko explains what's behind the food crusade and looks at 10 stunning stories that it's produced. Why does Russia destroy food? The Kremlin has embargoed imports of most foodstuffs from Western countries since 2014 in retaliation for Western sanctions against Russia. The counter-sanctions are supposed to hit agriculture in the offending nations while boosting domestic production. But why the Western sanctions? The sanctions were a response to Russia's decision to annex Ukraine's Crimea peninsula at gunpoint in 2014, as well as Moscow's support of pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. The West has blacklisted dozens of President Vladimir Putin's affiliates and limited Russia's access to foreign capital and state-of-the-art technologies. What countries were blacklisted by Russia? The United States, all 28 EU members, Australia, Albania, Canada, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Montenegro, Norway and Ukraine — though the ban for Ukraine was suspended until 2016. What has Russia banned? Meat (except mutton), fish, shrimp, oysters, dairy products, fruits and vegetables. Caviar, chocolate, coffee, pastry, spaghetti and alcohol are exempt; you can still get your Snickers in Moscow. Has it worked? EU farmers have lost an estimated 5.5 billion euro ($6 billion) due to Russia's embargo, but that pales in comparison to Russia's losses from the Western sanctions — a staggering $50 billion and counting, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov told CNBC earlier this year. Russia has no food shortages, but food selection has dwindled and prices have gone up almost 30 percent since early 2014. Is it the first time Russia has lashed out like this? Far from it. The country spent most of 2000s in puny trade wars with its post-Soviet neighbors, banning things like Moldovan wine, Georgian mineral water and Estonian fish. But it is the first time Russia has taken on most of the developed world. Why destroy sanctioned food? Many Russians are asking the same question and have lobbied to give contraband food to the poor, which number 23 million in Russia. But Russian officials say smuggled foodstuffs have no health certificates and can be dangerous. Besides, officials would likely to steal food during redistribution, Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachyov admitted. Is Russia the only country to burn food? Nope. Smuggled food is routinely destroyed throughout the world — the U.S., Britain and Australia also do it. But only Moscow makes a publicity stunt out of it. http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ukraine-crisis/russias-sanctions-war-against-west-explained-n412416