Russian authorities have banned the sale of a famous Armenian mineral water brand, Jermuk, on sanitary grounds.

According to the Russian state news agency TASS, the consumer watchdog Rospotrebnadzor flagged 64.5 million bottles and banned them from sale across Russia, claiming that they contain excessive levels of hydrocarbons, chlorine, and sulfates.

Earlier last week, the watchdog had also banned the import of Jermuk, again citing the same reason.

Russian authorities had earlier announced temporary bans on the import of flowers produced in Armenia, as well as some alcoholic beverages, vegetables, and strawberries, again citing phytosanitary reasons.

Parliament again failed to convene a plenary session on Friday, as lawmakers were absent for registration, as on two previous occasions earlier this week.

With only three MPs in attendance, the quorum required to start the session was not met, and Vice Speaker Hakob Arshakyan called for an adjournment of four hours. 

Arshakyan said that MPs are busy campaigning across the country ahead of the June 7 elections.

The Supreme Eurasian Economic Council — the highest body of the Eurasian Economic Union — convened on Friday in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev opened the summit, which was also attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and the leaders of other EAEU member states. Armenia, however, was represented at the summit by Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan instead of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who said he was busy with the campaigning period and skipped the event.

In his opening remarks, Tokayev highlighted the significance of convening the summit on May 29 — the day the treaty establishing the EAEU was signed in 2014.

A separate meeting between Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan and Russian President Vladimir Putin is not planned during the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan, scheduled to take place on May 29, TASS reported, citing the Kremlin spokesperson.

Grigoryan is representing Armenia at the summit instead of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who earlier said he would not attend due to the campaigning period in Armenia.

“No, a separate meeting is not planned; however, if they wish, they can have a conversation on the platforms of the summit,” TASS quoted Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as saying when asked at a press briefing about a possible meeting between the Armenian deputy prime minister and Putin.

Russian Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov has stated that restrictions on the import of certain goods from Armenia will not have a negative impact on the Russian economy.

Reshetnikov, in an interview with the Russian newspaper Izvestiya, claimed that Armenian imports had “relatively low consumption.”

“I am ready to speak on behalf of our market. Of course, it will not affect our market. Yesterday I was asked what will happen with inflation and so on. These are goods with relatively low consumption. We have always met the main demand through our own domestic production where necessary. In those areas, we have a fairly diversified system of suppliers in our market. Of course, we value everyone, but there will be no problems for our economy,” the Russian minister said when asked about the potential impact on the Russian economy of its recently announced ban on imports from Armenia.

Russia recently banned imports of flowers produced in Armenia, as well as Jermuk mineral water, some alcoholic beverages, vegetables (including tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and greens), and strawberries.

Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan told the leaders of the EAEU member states on Friday that the country intends to continue to participate in good faith in the work of the union, based on the principles of mutual respect, equal partnership, and taking into account the national interests of the member states.

He made the remarks at the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council — the highest body of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) — convened in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev opened the summit, which was also attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and the leaders of other EAEU member states.

Grigoryan took part instead of PM Nikol Pashinyan because the Armenian leader was unable to attend due to the campaigning period.

“I would like to wish all those present success, effective and constructive joint work, as well as to express confidence in the further development of Eurasian integration in the interests of our states and citizens,” Grigoryan said.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that Armenia has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to mutually beneficial cooperation within the EAEU framework, in the interests of ensuring the economic stability and economic development of the member countries.

“The Republic of Armenia intends to continue to participate in good faith in the work of the Union, based on the principles of mutual respect, equal partnership, and taking into account the national interests of all EAEU member states,” he noted.

Grigoryan emphasized the importance of the Artificial Intelligence agenda discussed at the Eurasian Economic Forum, noting that its development and implementation are key factors in improving economic competitiveness and strengthening technological sovereignty.

He said the EAEU joint declaration on the responsible development of AI is an important step toward coordinated approaches and effective cooperation mechanisms among member states in this field.

He also noted that the liberalization of services and trade remains a key driver of deeper integration within the EAEU, while some aspects of national regulations still require practical coordination to improve predictability, transparency, and business conditions.

Grigoryan stressed the importance of diversifying trade and economic ties with third countries, highlighting the effective implementation of existing free trade agreements and advancing negotiations on new ones.

He added that the diversification of transport connectivity is a key factor in boosting trade turnover.

He also underlined the importance of developing cooperation in the agro-industrial sector and welcomed the signing of a protocol extending financial support mechanisms for cooperative projects, saying it will contribute to expanding cooperation and strengthening food security within the Union.

The Kremlin said on Friday that leaders of four EAEU member states adopted a statement during the Astana summit and conveyed it to Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan.

Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, told reporters that the situation “around Armenia’s stance” was discussed at the summit.

“The statement of the four leaders was adopted,” Ushakov said, adding that Grigoryan was given the document signed by the leaders of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan to take back to Yerevan.

The Kremlin official did not elaborate.

Grigoryan attended in place of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who was unable to participate due to the election campaign period.

Moscow had earlier said that Armenia’s status within the union would be discussed at the summit, given Yerevan’s EU integration path.

Armenia has repeatedly said that it does not seek to withdraw from the union, but will continue to deepen ties with the EU.

Moscow said on Friday that EU integration is Armenia’s sovereign right, but that the process cannot take place “at the expense of the financial resources” of fellow members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

“Moving toward the EU is Armenia’s absolute sovereign right; however, Armenia cannot and must not do so at the expense of the finances of EAEU countries. That is, it must do it at its own expense,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

He warned that sooner or later Armenia could face a situation in which regulatory norms adopted in the country would contradict those of the EAEU.

Earlier, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that Armenia does not intend to withdraw from the EAEU and will continue to use its membership in the Union to protect the country’s economic interests.

The presidents of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan haveadopted a joint statement proposing that Armenia hold a nationwidereferendum “as soon as possible” on whether to join the European Unionor remain a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The jointstatement was published on the Kremlin’s official website.

The statement, adopted in Astana on May 29, says the position wasformed in light of Armenia’s recent steps towards European Unionmembership. Those steps include the adoption in 2025 by Armenia’sNational Assembly, and the subsequent signing by the President of theRepublic, of the law “On the launch of the process of the Republic ofArmenia’s accession to the European Union”, as well as the EuropeanUnion’s reaffirmation of Armenia’s European aspirations in the jointdeclaration adopted following the first Armenia-European Union summitheld on May 5, 2026.

“We share the position that it is necessary to hold a nationwidereferendum in the Republic of Armenia within the shortest possibletimeframe on the issue of accession to the European Union or continuedmembership in the Eurasian Economic Union,” the statement said.

The document also states that “the leaders of the EAEU member statessee significant economic security risks for the Union’s membercountries linked to Armenia’s preparations for accession to theEuropean Union.”

In this regard, it was decided that representatives of the Republic ofBelarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and theRussian Federation in the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council willpresent a report at the next meeting of the Supreme Eurasian EconomicCouncil, scheduled for December 2026, on the possible consequences ofsuspending the application of the Treaty on the Eurasian EconomicUnion with respect to the Republic of Armenia.

Commonwealth of Independent States General Secretary Sergey Lebedev has said Armenia will not join the European Union in the foreseeable future and will remain a member of both the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

“They will not go to the European Union, that will not happen in thenear future. No, they will not,” Lebedev said in an interview with the Russian media outlet Life.

He also gave an affirmative response when asked whether Armenia wouldremain a member of the EAEU and the CIS.

“And it will remain in the CIS. That is certain,” the CIS generalsecretary stressed.

Earlier, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that Armenia is not planning to leave the EAEU and will continue to use itsinvolvement in the bloc to protect the country’s economic interests.

Meanwhile, at a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Astana, Armenia’s Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan reaffirmed Armenia’s readiness to continue participating in the Union’s work ingood faith, on the basis of mutual respect, equal partnership andconsideration of the national interests of member states.