According to TASS, researchers from the RANEPA and CEFIR calculated that Russian consumers lost 445 billion rubles annually during the food embargo since 2013.
“Firstly, I, unfortunately, are not familiar with the details of these scientific studies and research, so I refuse to comment on this in any way,” he replied to a request from journalists to comment on this data.
According to him, Russia was not the initiator of the counter-sanction exchange, these are forced measures.
“At the same time, there is no silver lining. There are certain advantages for import substitution, for the development of national sectors of economic development. Forced measures, yes, now we are in an exchange of sanctions decisions, not on our initiative, ”he said.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the food embargo is not sanctions, but retaliatory measures.