(Image: Gorod48.ru) On Wednesday, Rosselkhoznadzor [Russia's agricultural products watchdog] imposed a ban on the import of tomatoes, apples and peppers to Russia from Azerbaijan, Armenia and Uzbekistan. Two days earlier, a similar ban was imposed on Turkish tomatoes and peppers. As for the goods from Uzbekistan, they were probably also banned 'by association'. The sanctions against tomatoes and apples from Azerbaijan, Turkey, and especially from the allied to Russia Armenia raise questions. Officially, the agency explains this step by [claiming] that the fruits and vegetables from these countries are infected with pests. However, judging on the basis of long-term experience in Russia's relations with its closest neighbors, we know that the sanitary- epidemiological justification, as a rule, is only one of the reasons for the introduction of such measures.