4 McDonald's restaurants shut down in Moscow

MOSCOW, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- A Russian watchdog has shut down four McDonald's restaurants in Moscow, citing "sanitary violations" that were discovered during recent inspections.

Rospotrebnadzor, a Russian consumer-rights watchdog, has a history of shutting down establishments that have relationships with countries the Kremlin does not favor. The group, however, is standing firm behind its concerns over food sanitation.

"Multiple violations of sanitary norms were detected in the sourcing of food and waste disposal in McDonald's restaurants during inspections carried out between the 18th and 20th of August," said Rospotrebnazdor in a statement.

McDonald's said it will investigate the claims and their "top priority is to provide safe and quality products."

The iconic McDonald's in Pushkinskaya Square, which opened in 1990 just before the fall of the Soviet Union, is one of the restaurants ordered to close. Muscovites lined the streets to get their taste of Western fast food cuisine after it opened.

The sauce: Watchdog shuts 'iconic' first-ever McDonald's that opened in 1990 in Moscow http://t.co/xsBP25eLUI pic.twitter.com/bSgjvRGeXk

— RT (@RT_com) August 20, 2014

Critics of the Kremlin say the shut downs are in response to the sanctions imposed on the country by the U.S. and Europe in response to the conflict in Ukraine and the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.

Quentin Peel, the former Moscow bureau chief for the Financial Times, told the BBC the closures were nothing but propaganda.

"It's an extraordinary decision, because McDonald's is the great symbol of the West, but at the same time they've set up the most extraordinary network of suppliers in Russia to keep the whole system going," he said.

Rospotrebnadzor is not stopping with Moscow. It announced plans to inspect McDonald's restaurants in the Urals in central Russia.

With more than 300 McDonald's restaurants across the country, Peel said the shut downs will hurt Russians more than anyone.