Russia: Food shop tries to trick Moscow police

Ordinary citizens see a billboard advert for Italian foods

Last year, Russian banned imports of meat and cheese from the European Union, but one Moscow delicatessen has come up with a novel way to advertise its remaining wares, it seems.

The Don Giulio Salumeria on ritzy Malaya Bronnaya Street was one of several shops to suffer from the ban - itself retaliation for Western sanctions over fighting in Ukraine - so it turned to an advertising company. The agency devised a street-level billboard that boasts "Banned Italian delicacies in Moscow" - until the police approach. It then switches to a fake ad for traditional Russian dolls, the Ad Index website reports. The ad showing policemen scratching their heads at the billboard to the amusement of passers-by has been seen nearly 95,000 times within two days of appearing on YouTube, and delighted many viewers.

The shop says the billboard switches ads thanks to a camera that recognises police insignia, but some social media users smell a rat - and not only about the technology. Many think it's a viral stunt involving actors, especially as the agency says it hopes to enter it at the Cannes Film Festival. Others note that the ban applies to the import, not the sale, of EU goods, so Don Giulio has nothing to fear from the police. "Anyway, what happens if the cops are in plainclothes?" asks one Facebook user ominously.

Police officers see an advertisement for dolls - but some viewers think they're actors

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