Moscow, Sep 22 (IANS/RIA Novosti): Russian consumer rights watchdog Rospotrebnadzor has suspended import of strong alcohol from the Czech Republic following lethal poisoning cases in that country.
Russia's chief state sanitary doctor Gennady Onishchenko said: "We have banned imports from the Czech Republic as of today (Friday). As the Czech Republic has banned alcohol exports, we assume the ban may result in all those potentially dangerous products reaching the Russian market."
A total of 23 people have died in the Czech Republic of methanol poisoning in the past two weeks and dozens have been hospitalised.
The Czech government Thursday suspended distribution and export of spirits with over 20 percent alcohol content under pressure from the European Union.
Poland and Slovakia have also suspended alcohol import from the Czech Republic.