Keep up the norm: Russia is waiting for a report on sanitary inspections from Armenia

Russia is ready to review restrictions on the import of goods from Armenia. To do this, Yerevan must provide a report on sanitary inspections and a clear plan for compliance with the requirements of the EAEU, the Rosselkhoznadzor told Izvestia. The import ban has been a major blow to Armenia: its revenues from fruit and vegetable exports to the EU are 80 times less than those to Russia, and local farmers are protesting and demanding compensation. How the situation is viewed in the republic and how strongly Yerevan's policy of rapprochement with the European Union affects what is happening is described in the Izvestia article.

Armenia's losses from trade bans

Economic relations between Russia and Armenia are going through one of the most difficult periods in modern history. In recent months, Moscow has imposed temporary restrictions on the import of a wide range of key agricultural products from the republic. Rospotrebnadzor and Rosselkhoznadzor explained that these measures are caused by systematic sanitary violations.

Local producers are already claiming large losses, while Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is trying to resolve the issue with Russian relevant agencies and lift current restrictions.

The Russian Federation is now waiting for the results of the investigation of sanitary violations from Armenia, as well as a plan to remedy the situation, the Rosselkhoznadzor told Izvestia in response to a question when Moscow would be ready to ease or lift restrictions.

"The Rosselkhoznadzor expects from the Armenian side the results of the investigation and information on the measures taken, as well as the algorithm of actions proposed by the Armenian side to comply with the veterinary and phytosanitary requirements of the EAEU," the agency said.

Izvestia also sent a request to Rospotrebnadzor. The ministry did not specify the dates by which Yerevan should provide Moscow with the results of the investigation.

Earlier, the head of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation Oksana Lut stated that Armenia will be able to resume supplies of agricultural products in the same volume only if the veterinary and phytosanitary standards of the EAEU are strictly observed. Restrictive measures have been introduced since the end of May. Initially, flower crops were banned, in which experts discovered the California thrips, a dangerous quarantine pest of American origin. Subsequently, restrictions were extended to fruit and vegetable products, berries, live fish, as well as to the alcoholic sector (wine, cognac), Jermuk mineral water and all categories of dairy products, including cheeses and butter.

According to the results of the inspections, it turned out that Armenian processing enterprises used raw materials from third countries outside the EAEU, as well as milk from livestock that had not passed veterinary control. In addition, the composition of alcoholic beverages has ceased to comply with GOST standards. The Rosselkhoznadzor noted that after the abolition of the Ministry of Agriculture of Armenia in 2019, its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Economy. However, the new agency does not provide proper supervision of exporters and issues permits without actual laboratory tests.

It should be noted that Pashinyan does not consider Russia's restrictions on goods from Armenia to be sanctions. At the same time, at the end of July, the Food Safety Inspection Body of the republic rejected the accusations related to the quality of dairy products. The department stated that local production fully complies with the EAEU regulations. There were no official comments from the Armenian side on the remaining product categories.

Disagreements in the assessment of violations between Russia and Armenia do not in themselves mean an impasse, Sabina Jafarova, strategic adviser on business Development, International Partnerships and GR, explained to Izvestia. In such situations, the parties may involve the EAEU institutions. The Union has control procedures, repeat inspection mechanisms, relevant departments and sites of the Eurasian Economic Commission. Izvestia contacted the EEC for comment.

The editorial board also sent inquiries to the Ministry of Economy of the Republic and the Armenian deputies. The issue of import restrictions was not discussed separately in the country's parliament, independent deputy of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, political scientist Tagui Tovmasyan told Izvestia. The discussion has not yet taken place, as the new parliament is at the stage of formation and organization of work.

The import ban has been a serious blow to Armenian businesses. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan promised farmers to fully compensate for losses from the state budget for unsold goods. However, these statements have not calmed the situation yet. The day before, farmers from the Armavir region staged a "peach protest" near the village of Khanjyan. They blocked the road, complaining that the current purchase prices for fruits do not even cover the cost of production. And at the end of July, employees of fish farms came out to protest at the government building.

The Russian market accounts for up to 98% of all exports of Armenian agricultural products. Eurostat statistics confirm that in May-June 2025 alone, Moscow purchased millions of dollars worth of fruits, vegetables and flowers from Yerevan, while the entire European Union purchased these goods for only €135.2 thousand over the same period. In 2026, during these months, the EU bought €364 thousand worth of vegetables, fruits and flowers from Armenian farmers. But this is still 80 times less than the volume of supplies from the republic to the Russian Federation for the same period in 2025, Hrant Mikaelyan, an expert at the Caucasus Institute, told the media earlier.

At the same time, the effect of the restrictions imposed on Russia itself is minimal. According to Sabina Jafarova, the missing volumes can be easily compensated by imports from other friendly countries.

The political dispute between Armenia and the EAEU

The aggravation of relations between Moscow and Yerevan has long been the subject of active discussions. A noticeable cooling began after Armenia's decision to freeze its participation in the CSTO. At the same time, Yerevan took a confident course towards rapprochement with Brussels and held the first Armenia–EU summit. In addition, Nikol Pashinyan began to regularly skip meetings of the EAEU leaders, sending the deputy Prime Minister instead.

The turning point was Vladimir Zelensky's speech at the May summit of the European Political Community in Yerevan. His call for the West to increase sanctions pressure on Russia caused sharp discontent in Moscow. Although the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed that Armenia remains a strategic partner, the Russian Federation has accumulated a number of "legitimate questions" for its ally. Shortly before the parliamentary elections in the republic, Russia introduced the first import restrictions. After that, Pashinyan decided to resume his personal participation in the EAEU events. In early July, at the Innoprom exhibition in Yekaterinburg, he held a meeting with Mikhail Mishustin, Head of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Russian Federation, where the leaders apparently discussed the accumulated economic differences.

For the Russian Federation, Yerevan's course towards European integration has become a primary problem. Earlier, Vladimir Putin recalled the May statement by the EAEU leaders, which called for holding a referendum as soon as possible and choosing between the two unions. However, Pashinyan retorted that the law on the beginning of EU membership does not mean automatic membership. Yerevan faces procedures that will take years, and only after that it is logical to hold a vote. Nevertheless, the EAEU expects Armenia to announce a referendum before December.

"Obviously, if the call for a referendum has not been heard by that time, the leaders will take this fact into account when determining appropriate further joint steps," said Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation.

According to experts, a possible break with the EAEU would be an economic disaster for Armenia. In 2024, the republic's trade turnover with the Union countries reached a record $12.7 billion, while with the European Union it amounted to a modest $2.3 billion. Russia continues to supply energy resources to the country at discounted prices and remains the main market for Armenian goods. "Energy and gas prices in Europe are off the charts for $600 per thousand cubic meters. And Russia sells gas to Armenia for $177.5. There is a big difference," Putin stressed earlier.

The current political crisis significantly complicates the resolution of the trade dispute between the countries, Sabina Jafarova believes. In her opinion, the European vector of Yerevan only strengthens the mutual distrust of the parties. But the way out of the impasse should be to solve specific problems with the quality of goods, not political discussions.