Armenian Economy Minister Denies Problems with Transporting Fruits and Vegetables to Russia

In August, only four trucks with fruits and vegetables returned from the checkpoint on the border with Georgia, reported the head of the Armenian Ministry of Economy Gevorg Papoyan.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" wrote, hundreds of trucks with grapes, plums and peaches were not allowed into Russia at the "Upper Lars" checkpoint and were forced to return to Armenia, this problem is of a political nature, said opposition MP Garnik Danielyan.

Armenian Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan called on the opposition not to spread information about problems with the supply of Armenian products to Russia. According to the official, a large number of trucks with various goods enter Russia every day - an average of 101 vehicles per day.

"In August, 762 trucks loaded with Armenian fruits and vegetables entered Russia, and only 4 returned from Georgia," the minister wrote on his Facebook page*.

This was his response to the assertion of opposition member of the Armenian parliament Garnik Danielyan that hundreds of trucks with Armenian goods and products, including peaches and grapes, heading to Russia were turned back at the border with Georgia.

"Dear Garnik, it is not good to lie," the minister responded to deputy Danielyan, promising to publish statistics on Armenian exports to Russia.

It should be noted that on June 27, Rosselkhoznadzor changed the rules for the import of cut flowers and buds from Armenia to Russia: imports are allowed only from production sites that ensure traceability. The reason for the restrictions was the increase in supplies of flowers of unknown phytosanitary status, as well as in order to maintain phytosanitary well-being and import "truly Armenian flower products" into the country, the department's website reports.

As "Caucasian Knot" wrote, in November 2023, the Armenian authorities demanded that an urgent meeting be convened within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union, since Russia refused to accept more than 30 vehicles with cargo, rejecting the quality of vegetables, fruits and flowers.