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Russia Sacks Agriculture Official for Handling of Siberian Cattle Illness
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 20, 2026
1 min readLast updated: April 20, 2026
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Quick Summary
Russia’s Novosibirsk governor has dismissed local agriculture minister Andrei Shindelov over handling of a controversial livestock culling tied to disease outbreaks. Farmers protested mass euthanasia—primarily of private herds—claiming pasteurellosis doesn’t warrant it, while USDA reports and neighb
Russia Sacks Novosibirsk Agriculture Minister Over Siberian Cattle Illness
Minister Dismissal and Outbreak Details
Background of the Outbreak
MOSCOW, April 20 - The governor of Russia's Novosibirsk region sacked a local agriculture minister on Monday for his handling of an outbreak of cattle illness that has led to mass culling in Siberia and sparked rare protests by farmers.
Official Actions Taken
Governor Andrei Travnikov sacked Minister Andrei Shindelov, the local government's Telegram channel said.
Farmer Protests and Disease Concerns
Novosibirsk farmers protested in March after police and vets culled thousands of animals in the region, fighting what they described as outbreaks of pasteurellosis - a severe bacterial pneumonia - and rabies. Many biology experts have said that neither of these diseases is commensurate with the culling.
Speculation About Foot-and-Mouth Disease
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agriculture Service in a report published last month cited "local sources and trading contacts" who alleged that "the scale of these measures may indicate an unconfirmed outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease."
Official Russian Response
The Russian agriculture watchdog agency told Reuters that allegations in the USDA report "were not true."
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Gleb Bryanski; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)
Key Takeaways
- •Governor Andrei Travnikov removed agriculture minister Andrei Shindelov amid backlash over culling tactics following outbreaks in the Novosibirsk region. (yahoo.com)
- •Farmers staged rare protests citing improper treatment of pasteurellosis (treatable with antibiotics) and rabies; they demanded transparency, fair compensation, and questioned the mass slaughter of apparently healthy livestock. (ovd.info)
- •The USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service suggested the scale of culling may indicate an unconfirmed foot‑and‑mouth disease outbreak; Russian authorities and media dismissed or denied these allegations. (themoscowtimes.com)
References
- Russia's Novosibirsk region declares cattle disease emergency as culls spark farmer protests
- In Novosibirsk region, a major area in southwestern Siberia, protesters against the culling of domestic livestock in rural villages have been detained. | OVD-Info
- Farmers Flock to Moscow Demanding Putin Put a Stop to Mass Culling of Cattle - The Moscow Times
Frequently Asked Questions about Russia sacks agriculture official for handling of Siberian cattle illness
1Why was the Novosibirsk agriculture minister sacked?
He was dismissed for his handling of a cattle illness outbreak that led to mass culling and protests in Siberia.
2What diseases were reported in the Siberian cattle outbreak?
Outbreaks of pasteurellosis and rabies were reported, but experts questioned the justification for mass culling.
3What did the U.S. Department of Agriculture allege about the outbreak?
The USDA cited local sources claiming the outbreak measures might indicate unconfirmed foot-and-mouth disease.
4How did Russian authorities respond to the USDA report?
The Russian agriculture watchdog agency denied the USDA's claims, stating the allegations were not true.
5How did local farmers react to the cattle culling?
Farmers in Novosibirsk protested the mass culling of animals carried out by police and vets.
