Russia imposes temporary ban on Armenian veg

Russia has announced temporary restrictions on imports of key agricultural products from Armenia, a move that comes amid growing diplomatic friction between the two traditional allies. The restrictions, set to begin on May 30, will apply to fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, leafy greens, and strawberries originating from or shipped through Armenia.

The Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision, known as Rosselkhoznadzor, stated the decision was made to protect phytosanitary safety. The agency cited inspections conducted between May 21 and May 27 at Armenian enterprises, where specialists reported discovering quarantine pests classified as dangerous for member states of the Eurasian Economic Union. Officials said Armenian agricultural products had been found in violation of these standards 181 times so far this year. The agency further claimed that a significant volume of produce comes from suppliers with unclear ownership who avoid mandatory inspections, pointing to an ineffective traceability system for Armenian exports.

Russian Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov stated that the restrictions would not negatively affect Russian...