KIEV, October 10 (RIA Novosti) - The State Veterinary and Phytosanitary Service of Ukraine has banned food products from Crimea and Sevastopol from entering the Ukrainian territory starting next week, the service said in a statement released on Friday.
"The State Veterinary and Phytosanitary Service of Ukraine starting from 13.10.2014 introduces a temporary ban on the movement of goods ... from the territory of the Autonomous Republic Crimea and the city of Sevastopol," the statement said.
According to the document, such decision has been made because Kiev is unable to conduct independently the veterinary and sanitary control in Crimea.
Following the February coup in the country, residents of Crimea refused to recognize the legitimacy of the new government and held a referendum in March which resulted in Crimea's reunification with Russia.
Kiev still refuses to recognize the referendum's results, claiming that Crimea has been "occupied" by Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin in a speech following the referendum stressed that it was held in full compliance with democratic procedures and rules of international law
The population of Crimea currently stands at about 2 million people and according to the Russian Federal Migration Service only 3,500 of them have filed applications to renounce Russian citizenship.
