Moscow court upholds Russian watchdog’s closure of McDonald’s outlets

The temporary closure of three McDonald’s outlets in Moscow owing to breaches of food safety rules has received backing from the Russian courts.

Russia’s federal service for surveillance on consumer rights protection and human wellbeing, Rospotrebnadzor, temporarily shut down three restaurants in Moscow last week as part of an unscheduled inspection drive, citing a breach of sanitary laws, and this week ordered the temporary closure of a fourth branch in the capital.

While the group has denied that the closures are politically motivated, there has been speculation that the move is retaliation for the economic sanctions imposed by the West over Moscow’s stance on the Ukraine conflict.

The company’s outlets on Moscow’s Manezh Square, at Pushkin Square and on Prospect Mira have been closed since last week.

These restaurants have been shut temporarily for a period of 90 days.

McDonald’s said it would appeal the court rulings. Another outlet of the company was closed following a court ruling in the Urals region. The courth ordered the closure of a restaurant in the city of Yekaterinburg for 85 days.

According to McDonalds’ annual report of 2013, the company operates about 440 restaurants in Russia and considers the country one of its top seven markets outside the US and Canada.