The government of Armenia has approved a large-scale support program for the agricultural sector, which will compensate the exporters of greenhouse fruits and vegetables and flowers with around 2 billion drams in order to find new markets for consumption against the background of Russia’s restrictions.
According to the project approved at the executive meeting, during the month of June 2026, clearly defined subsidies will be provided to businessmen for goods exported from the republic. The state is obliged to pay 770 drams for each kilogram of strawberries, 275 drams for tomatoes, 400 drams for pepper, and 37 drams for each exported flower.
This decision was made as a result of discussions with exporters, during which business representatives said that they urgently need financial support to be competitive in new countries.
The need for urgent redirection of trade flows is due to the high dependence of the sector on the Russian market and the trade restrictions imposed on Armenia by the Russian control authorities in recent days. In 2025, the total volume of export of fresh fruits and vegetables and flowers from Armenia was about 73 billion drams, and more than 93 percent of these flows fell to the Russian Federation.
According to forecasts, the supported volumes in June will amount to about 4250 tons of fruits and vegetables and 10 million flowers. In order to benefit from state compensation, business owners must submit an appropriate application to the Ministry of Economy, attaching the transit declaration and invoice.
A temporary ban on the import of stone fruits and grapes from Armenia will come into effect in Russia on June 2, “Rosselkhoznadzor” reported. Cherries, cherries, apricots, plums, peaches, nectarines and fresh grapes are under restrictions, allegedly due to “frequent supply violations”. This is not the first restrictive measure imposed in Russia against Armenian exports in recent weeks. Earlier, “Rosselkhoznadzor” banned the import of fish and fish products from Armenia, making an exception only for two enterprises that passed the Russian inspection. In addition, Russia has limited the import of Armenian flowers, mineral water, cognac, wine, vegetables and strawberries.
Earlier, the Russian leadership openly indicated the need to make a choice between Brussels and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), stressing that rapprochement with European structures will inevitably create systemic complications for the republic in the Eurasian area.
The situation was significantly aggravated at the EAEU summit held in Astana at the end of May, where the partners of the union – Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan – issued a joint statement calling on Yerevan to hold a nationwide referendum in the shortest possible time to determine the foreign policy vector.
Moreover, the members of the union initiated the preparation of a special report on the consequences of the possible suspension of Armenia’s membership, which is planned to be presented at the December session of the Higher Eurasian Economic Council. Despite growing diplomatic pressure, Nikol Pashinyan reaffirmed Yerevan’s intention to continue planned and calm interaction within the framework of the EAEU until a geopolitical choice between the two economic blocs becomes completely inevitable.
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