Ukraine has not allowed a Russian truck carrying 20 camels into Bulgaria to cross its border citing lack of transit permits and sanitary concerns, Ukrainian border guards said on Tuesday.
The truck carrying camels from Russia's southern city of Vladikavkaz for circus training in Bulgaria was held up on Monday night when Ukrainian officials said the truck lacked "a permit for transiting camels via Ukrainian territory."
"And the vehicle contained fodder that is not allowed to be brought into Ukraine due to measures being taken at the border since mid-October to curb the spread of African swine fever," border guards said.
The truck was sent back to the Russian border checkpoint for disinfection, permits and removal of the fodder, the officials said.
There have been no Russian official comments on the incident.
A similar incident took place on the Russian-Ukrainian border at the start of the year, when 20 camels were held up for two weeks in freezing temperatures before being allowed to transit Ukraine. The incident resulted in the death of one animal.
Russian customs officials had checked the documents and cleared the truck to leave Russia at the time.
KIEV, December 8 (RIA Novosti)
