Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin has accused Armenian officials of manipulation after Yerevan described Russian agricultural import restrictions as political sanctions.
Speaking to state news agency RIA Novosti, Galuzin rejected assertions by Armenian officials and media outlets that Moscow had targeted the South Caucasus nation with economic penalties.
The diplomat stated that claims framing the import controls as sanctions have nothing to do with reality, emphasizing that Russia has always paid heightened attention to phytosanitary standards for food imports.
Galuzin explained that Russian inspectors enforce standard safety criteria, which require Armenian producers to use domestic raw materials, monitor pesticide usage, and guarantee full traceability across supply chains.
Phytosanitary controls are legal measures enforced by border authorities to ensure imported agricultural products are free from pests, plant diseases, and hazardous chemical contaminants.
Agricultural curbs and food safety controls
The dispute comes after Russian agricultural watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor, led by Sergey Dankvert, introduced restrictions across a wide variety of Armenian produce and foodstuffs.
Dankvert previously denied any connection between worsening political relations between the two countries and the mass food prohibitions, describing the timing as a coincidence based on years of official observations.
As Russia's federal service for veterinary and phytosanitary surveillance, Rosselkhoznadzor oversees food safety standards and monitors commercial food shipments entering the country.
Russian authorities have restricted imports of a broad range of Armenian goods, including tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, green crops, strawberries, eggplants, and potatoes.
Russian inspectors also restricted imports of apricots, plums, peaches, nectarines, grapes, cherries, sweet cherries, dried fruits, mineral water, fish, fish products, and cut flowers.
Armenia appeals to Eurasian trade body
Following the Russian restrictions, representatives from Armenia formally appealed to the Eurasian Economic Commission, asking the organization to review the trade limits imposed on Armenian products.
The Eurasian Economic Commission is the executive regulatory body of the Eurasian Economic Union, an economic alliance comprising Armenia, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan that regulates trade standards and economic integration.
Armenia and Russia both belong to the single market system, which is designed to enable the free movement of goods, services, capital, and labor among member nations across the region.
