Russia has restricted sales or imports of Armenian produce, flowers, mineral water and alcoholic products over the past month, ramping up economic pressure on the South Caucasus country as it pursues closer European integration.
Ostensibly imposed over alleged health and safety violations, the restrictions come ahead of parliamentary elections in Armenia, where Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party is up against an array of Russia-friendly opposition groups.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has invoked what he called the “Ukrainian scenario” to warn Armenia against pursuing closer ties with the EU, and said it is “impossible” to be in both the EU and the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union.
Here is a running list of all the products that Russia has banned:
Flowers: On May 22, Russia’s agriculture watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor restricted the import of flower products from Armenia.
