Today I came across an article with a really interesting headline "Putin chokes chicken supplies from U.S.". Those fluent in English language will quickly see where is fun in that headline. However, Putin's interview that was aired on CNN was not that funny. Prime Minister Putin and in my opinion de facto president of Russia has gone too far this time.

First, Mr. Putin suggests that the U.S. have provoked the war between Georgia and Russia. Further, the "prime minister", goes even further by saying that Russian defense officials believed that United States citizens were in the conflict area supporting the Georgian military when it attacked the separatist region of South Ossetia. A politician of such a caliber as Mr. Putin is shall be wise enough not say such stupid things in an interview given to the world's major TV channel.

Yes, it is true that U.S. have been helping Georgia in training and forming a good army but that is not enough for such bold claims. After all, Georgia thrives to join NATO and there is no surprise that we are doing our best with the help from the USA to have an army that is as good as the forces of NATO.

But what about the chickens? This is even absurd. According to Mr. Putin, some firms (obviously he has not named them) doing import of US poultry in Russia had failed health and safety tests and thus Russia will ban imports from 19 U.S. poultry suppliers.

This statement has quickly reminded me a situation when Russia banned imports of Georgian wine. Georgia is one of the ancient countries producing wine and if not our winemakers who knows how to produce high quality wine. Anyone who has at least once visited Georgia will confirm that Georgian wine is one of the best in the world.

Putin denied there was any link between the ban and political tensions over the conflict in Georgia and the Kremlin’s recognition of two breakaway Georgian regions. Hard to believe indeed.

It must be noted that the US is not the only country facing this problem. The Eu complained earlier this year that Russia was using “disproportionate” safety controls to ban beef, poultry and pork producers from European countries like France and Denmark.

Again, we, Georgians have been facing this problem for quite while (banning Georgian wine, fruits, abolishing flights, etc) and I just wonder if Russia will ever learn to play it fair.