Russia banned more imports from Armenia on Monday, imposing “temporary restrictions” on the sale of Armenian fruits just days before the country’s crucial parliamentary elections.
As was the case with other food products essentially banned by it late last month, the Russian agricultural watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor claimed that many of them do not meet phytosanitary requirements of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) because of what it called poor oversight by Armenian authorities.
The government agency said that the measure, effective from Tuesday, applies to grapes and stone fruits such as apricots, cherries and peaches. It comes just before the start of apricot and cherry harvesting period in Armenia. Russia has long been a key market for these crops grown by tens of thousands of Armenian farmers.
Many others grow vegetables that have also been exported to Russia in large quantities for many years. Rosselkhoznadzor blocked their imports late week, saying that it has found dangerous “quarantined objects” in many Armenian tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and greens. Imports of Armenian cut flowers and mineral water were halted earlier in May.
The punitive measures highlight a further deterioration of Russian-Armenian relations that followed the holding of two European summits in Yerevan in early May. Moscow has since been pressuring the Armenian government to choose between continuing to seek membership of the European Union and remaining part of the EEU, a Russian-led trade that guarantees Armenian exporters’ tariff-free access to the Russian market.
On Friday, EEU member Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan joined Russia in telling Yerevan to make such a choice through a referendum “as soon as possible.” They also implicitly threatened to suspend Armenia’s membership in the bloc. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian dismissed the demand.
Moscow is ramping up the pressure on Yerevan ahead of the June 7 elections in which Pashinian’s Civil Contract party is challenged by opposition groups pledging to repair Russian-Armenian relations.
According to Armenian government data, Russia accounted for 35.8 percent of Armenia’s foreign trade last year, followed by China (12.3 percent) and the EU (11.7 percent). Armenian exports to Russia totaled almost $3 billion in 2025, compared with $667 million worth of goods exported by Armenian firms to EU member states.
The EU condemned the Russian pressure on Monday. It accused Moscow of trying to “hurt Armenia’s economy” and “influence the outcome” of Sunday’s elections.
“We will continue supporting Armenia to handle such attempts of coercion,” EU spokesman Anouar El Anouni said, according to the AFP news agency.
The EU itself was accused by Russia as well as the Armenian opposition of election meddling after deciding earlier this year to send a “hybrid rapid response team” to Yerevan for the ballot. The deployment was requested by Pashinian’s government.
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Pashinian Still Reluctant To Choose Between EU, Russian-Led Bloc
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on Monday rejected Russian-led calls for Armenia to finally decide whether to remain part of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) or continue seeking membership of the European Union.
Following two European summits hosted by the Armenian government in early May, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Yerevan should make such a choice “as soon as possible.” The leaders of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan backed this stance during an EEU summit in Astana on Friday boycotted by Pashinian. In a joint statement with Putin, they called for an Armenian referendum on the issue.
“Until Armenia officially applies for membership in the European Union or is very close to the status of candidate for EU membership, holding any referendum is illogical,” countered Pashinian.
“Today that choice is theoretical, and putting a theoretical choice on a referendum is not quite sensible, correct and well-founded,” he said.
Armenia, he said, will remain a member of the Russian-led trade bloc “until the moment when choosing between the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union is inevitable.” He again refused to set any time frames.
Pashinian’s government enacted last year a law calling for the “start of a process of Armenia’s accession to the European Union.” Its domestic critics denounced the move as reckless, saying that the EU will not admit the South Caucasus in the foreseeable future. No EU member state or institution has voiced explicit support for such a prospect so far.
In their statement, Putin and the other EEU leaders implicitly warned of a possible suspension of Armenia’s membership in the Russian-led bloc vital for the Armenian economy. They said their prime ministers will present “possible consequences” of such a development at the next EEU summit in December.
Pashinian has stressed in recent weeks that Armenia cannot be kicked out of the EEU without its consent. Opposition groups challenging him in the June 7 parliamentary elections say that even if Pashinian vetoes its exit, Russia will still be in a position to impose crippling economic sanctions on Yerevan. Citing sanitary grounds, Moscow has already banned or seriously restricted the import of some Armenian products in the last ten days.
Putin warned of more economic measures against Armenia when he spoke to journalists in Astana. And he again emphasized the fact that the country is heavily dependent on Russia for trade and energy.
“While moving toward the European Union, which is Armenia’s absolute sovereign right, Armenia cannot and should not do so at the expense of EEU countries,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said for his part. “It must do so at its own expense.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday that Russia’s ambassador in Yerevan, Sergei Kopyrkin, has been recalled to Moscow for “consultations in connection with the Armenian leadership’s steps to move closer to the European Union which are detrimental to cooperation within the EEU.”
Despite the recall, Putin phoned Pashinian on Monday to congratulate him on his 51st birthday anniversary. They also discussed the “results” of the EEU summit in the Kazakh capital, according to the Kremlin’s short readout of the call.
Pashinian’s office said, for its part, that the two leaders spoke about “current issues on the bilateral and multilateral agenda.” It said Pashinian thanked Putin for his “balanced positions, friendly tone as well as support on a number of issues that give rise to misunderstandings.”
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RFE/RL – Prosecutors Refuse To Probe Pashinian’s Threats Against Opposition L
- Naira Bulghadarian
Law-enforcement authorities have refused to launch a criminal investigation into Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s pledge to “take out” Armenia’s top opposition leaders and his insults and threats addressed to refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh.
Campaigning for the upcoming parliamentary elections in Yerevan on May 18, Pashinian repeatedly lost his temper after being confronted by disgruntled citizens. They included the sister of a senior military medic who went missing during the 2020 war in Karabakh. The woman blamed Pashinian for her loss and accused him of having “stolen my fatherland.” He responded by linking her to the three main opposition election contenders and pledging to “bring on their knees” and “take out” their leaders.
Pashinian also lashed out at a Yerevan-based Karabakh activist, Artur Osipian, who asked him questions and criticized his policies on Karabakh. He shouted insults and threats directed at “Karabakh pseudo-elites,” saying that they “should have died” during the wars with Azerbaijan.
Right after the incident, Osipian was arrested on charges of disrupting public order and obstructing the ruling Civil Contract’s election campaign. He has been on hunger strike in a Yerevan prison for almost two weeks.
Opposition groups and other critics say that Pashinian himself should have been prosecuted for his behavior. Aram Vartevanian, a senior representative of the main opposition Strong Armenia bloc, petitioned Prosecutor-General Anna Vartapetian on May 21 to order a formal inquiry into public calls for violence and hate speech. Vartapetian’s office forwarded the demand to another law-enforcement agency, the Investigative Committee.
The committee said on Monday that it has refused to open such a criminal case. It gave no reason for the decision approved by a prosecutor.
Pashinian continued to attack and threaten his three main election challengers even after an uproar caused by his outbursts. He said that former President Robert Kocharian, Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetian and another wealthy businessman, Gagik Tsarukian, will go to jail if he wins the June 7 elections. Representatives of the three opposition leaders have portrayed this as further proof that law-enforcement agencies and courts act on Pashinian’s orders.
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Turkish Press: Pashinyan says Armenia to achieve goal of normalizing relations
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Armen Pogossian Represents Armenia at Forbes Under 30 Summit China, Empowering
June 1 2026
Armen Pogossian Represents Armenia at Forbes Under 30 Summit China, Empowering the Next Generation of Global Entrepreneurs
By PR Newswire
Post-meeting dialogue with Armen Pogossian, Owner Pogossian Luxury Brand House
Pogossian was invited to participate in the 2024-2025 Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit China, held at Zhengzhou Sias University in Henan Province alongside the 2026 Forbes China Economic Forum. His presence at the prestigious gathering highlighted not only his growing international profile, but also Armenia’s expanding voice in global entrepreneurship, luxury branding, and cross-border collaboration.
Held under the forward-looking theme “Jumpstarting the Future,” the two-day summit brought together an influential community of past and present Forbes China Under 30 honorees, global financial and business leaders, visionary investors, industry judges, academic pioneers, and senior Forbes China executives.
The summit opened with an exclusive welcome reception in the French Garden of Zhengzhou Sias University, where remarks were delivered by Herman Chik, Head of International Business at Forbes China, and Niu Xiaoyu, Party Secretary of Zhengzhou Sias University. The setting created a powerful atmosphere for dialogue, innovation, and connection among the next generation of leaders.
As part of the summit’s high-level dialogue, Armen Pogossian shared his perspective on the role of young entrepreneurs in shaping the future of global business.
“Future entrepreneurs do not simply follow trends; they create them in an ever-changing market. Bringing together individuals who share this vision of excellence makes transformative change inevitable. My experience at the Forbes Under 30 Summit proved that by exchanging ideas, embracing innovation, and remaining open to borderless collaboration, we can begin to see and shape a part of the future before it even arrives.”
Throughout the summit, Pogossian engaged with leading entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, and business figures from across China and beyond. His participation reflected a broader mission: to connect Armenian excellence with international platforms that recognize talent, ambition, and future-focused leadership.
The summit’s main program featured five keynote speeches and three specialized roundtable forums, covering topics including AI-powered smart hardware, domestic computing power ecosystems, new consumer brand logic, and embodied intelligent robotics.
A major highlight of the event was the highly anticipated Under 30 Awards Gala, where honorees from the 2024 and 2025 Forbes China Under 30 lists were celebrated. The evening spotlighted the diversity, ambition, and vision driving China’s newest generation of business leaders.
During the summit, the elegantly designed Jardins d’Arménie booth attracted notable attention from guests, offering an immersive tasting experience that introduced attendees to the distinctive character and heritage of the royal brandy. The activation further strengthened Armenia’s cultural and luxury presence within the Forbes Under 30 environment.
Pogossian Luxury Brand House supported the successful execution of the summit alongside a prestigious group of corporate partners, including iSoftStone, Plug and Play China, Dreame AI Smart Ring, and MarcumAsia.
Armen Pogossian is the 27 year old owner of Pogossian Luxury Brand House, one of the fastest growing international luxury groups built on a family legacy of craftsmanship, creativity, and excellence. Representing a new generation of Armenian entrepreneurs, Pogossian continues to expand the presence of innovative luxury across global markets.
Since the early 1990s, the Pogossian family has been creating exceptional luxury products rooted in craftsmanship and refinement. Based in Armenia and present in more than 40 countries, Pogossian Luxury Brand House embodies a vision of creativity, excellence, and immersive brand experiences designed for an international clientele.
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Armenian PM rejects Putin’s call for referendum over EU trajectory
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s call for a referendum on whether Armenia should remain in a Moscow-led economic bloc or move toward European Union membership, sharpening tensions days before a general election.
Formally allied to Russia, the Caucasus nation of around 3 million people has been deepening ties with the West in recent years despite its economic dependence on Moscow.
‘Balanced’ foreign policy
In a video published on Facebook on Monday, Pashinyan, who has led the South Caucasus country closer to the West, said a referendum would be illogical now because the choice between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the EU was not yet “inevitable”.
Pashinyan said Armenia should consider such a vote only if it formally applies to join the EU or comes close to receiving candidate status.
He added that his government was pursuing a “balanced” foreign policy.
Pashinyan’s comments came before he spoke to Putin on the phone on Monday. The Kremlin said the two leaders discussed last week’s EAEU summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, which Pashinyan did not attend.
Moscow raises pressure
Russia recalled its ambassador to Armenia for consultations on Saturday, citing Yerevan’s steps toward closer ties with the EU. The Russian-led EAEU bloc has also warned it could consider suspending Armenia over its European course.
Armenia has had close ties with Russia since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, and Moscow remains its biggest trade partner.
But relations worsened after Azerbaijan retook Nagorno-Karabakh, a region inside Azerbaijan that had been controlled for decades by ethnic Armenians, in 2023.
Armenia says Russian peacekeepers deployed there failed to prevent Azerbaijan’s offensive or protect the Armenian population, which fled the region.
Armenia’s parliament passed a law in 2025 to start the EU accession process, but Yerevan has not yet submitted a formal membership bid.
Next Sunday’s parliamentary election is widely seen as a contest between Pashinyan’s pro-Western course and a pro-Russian opposition.
Polls show the prime minister’s party ahead. US President Donald Trump has endorsed Pashinyan.
This article includes reporting by Reuters
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Turkish Press: Russia expands restrictions on Armenian agricultural products
MOSCOW
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EAEU Leaders Urge Armenia To Hold Referendum
The presidents of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have called on Armenia to hold a nationwide referendum on the question of joining the European Union, according to the Kremlin press service.
“We share the view that a nationwide referendum should be held in the Republic of Armenia as soon as possible on whether to join the European Union or continue its participation in the Eurasian Economic Union,” the leaders said in a joint statement adopted following the summit in Astana, RIA Novosti reports.
The document also states that members of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council will present a report in December on the potential consequences of suspending the application of the EAEU Treaty with respect to Armenia.
The four leaders further stressed the need to prevent any potential damage to the union that could result from Yerevan’s preparations for accession to the European Union.
Earlier in May, Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Armenia to clarify its position regarding participation in either the European Union or the EAEU as soon as possible. He has repeatedly stated that every country has the right to choose its partners, but that simultaneous membership in both integration frameworks is not feasible.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan did not attend the summit in Kazakhstan, where the issue was expected to be discussed, citing his election campaign commitments. He has also stated that if Armenia decides to leave the EAEU, the process would be planned in advance and would not require a referendum.
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Putin Warns Of EAEU Exit Costs For Armenia
Russian President Vladimir Putin, following the conclusion of his visit to Kazakhstan, commented on the possible consequences for Armenia of leaving the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
He warned that, if Armenia exits the EAEU, Yerevan would lose access to the existing free-trade agreements, RIA Novosti reported.
“We would be forced, in general, to discontinue almost all of our work with Armenia related to economic cooperation within the framework of integration processes,” he said.
Putin noted that Armenia would also face stricter requirements for road freight carriers, while migrants would have to obtain the appropriate work permits in order to work in Russia. In addition, Moscow would raise fuel and energy resource prices for Yerevan, which, according to his assessment, could cost the country 14 percent of its GDP.
“Lower energy prices: in Europe they are 600 euros, while here they are just over 150. These are incomparable figures. Everyone always talks about ‘energy resources’; that is important, but it is not the only advantage, not the only positive aspect,” he said.
Putin also recalled that the share of Russian capital in investments in Armenia has exceeded 86 percent.
“After the meeting in Yerevan, our European partners promised to invest €2.5 billion. How they will invest it and when they will invest it remains to be seen,” he added.
The president called for a referendum to be held as soon as possible to determine whether Armenia’s future lies in the EAEU or in the European Union. At the same time, he said that Yerevan’s economic decisions aimed at closer ties with the EU would not harm humanitarian relations with Russia, according to TASS.
“We would ask our Armenian partners and friends. Prime Minister Pashinyan himself has said that he plans, and considers it appropriate, to hold a referendum on where Armenia should be — in the Eurasian Economic Union or in the European Union. We would ask that this be done as soon as possible,” Putin said.
Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov described the situation surrounding Armenia’s membership in the EAEU and its plans to join the European Union as unprecedented.
Peskov recalled that Armenia had declared its orientation toward EU membership and adopted the relevant law. However, he said that EU membership is, from a regulatory standpoint, incompatible with EAEU membership, creating risks for integration processes.
“The situation is indeed unprecedented. Armenia says there will be a referendum on this issue, yet on the other hand, the law was adopted without a referendum. There are many contradictions in this situation. But every country has the sovereign right to choose, and everyone respects Armenia’s right to do so. However, this cannot be carried out at the expense of other states because EAEU membership nevertheless provides very significant advantages to participating countries,” Peskov said.
In the spring of 2025, Armenia adopted a law concerning the republic’s intention to join the European Union, although the EU itself has not offered the country membership. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that Yerevan understands the incompatibility of simultaneously being a member of both the EU and the EAEU. At the same time, the country will continue coordinating its agenda with both organizations for as long as that remains possible.
Putin said Armenia should clarify its choice as soon as possible regarding participation in either the EU or the EAEU, after which it would be possible to proceed through a “soft and civilized separation.” Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said the situation surrounding Armenia was discussed at the EAEU summit in Astana, where the leaders of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan adopted a statement concerning the republic.
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Don’t follow Ukraine’s path! Alexander Lukashenko warns Armenia
The comment comes amid discussions on deepening relations between Yerevan and the European Union
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has urged Armenia to exercise caution in making decisions about its future geopolitical orientation and warned against making mistakes that, in his opinion, led to the conflict in Ukraine.
“Armenians should be very careful, God forbid, so that what happened in Ukraine does not happen again… In Ukraine, everything started exactly like that. You remember that. So that they, the Armenians, who have just come out of a war, do not find themselves in a difficult situation because of this. There is no need to rush. We just need to think, we need to be wise. Before taking such a step [choosing rapprochement with the European Union over membership in Putin’s Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU – ed.)], the Armenian people should think very seriously,” Lukashenko told journalists on the sidelines of the Eurasian Economic Union summit in Astana on May 29, quoted by Interfax.
The comment comes amid discussions on deepening relations between Armenia and the European Union.
At the same time, Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mger Grigoryan said that Yerevan is not considering a scenario of leaving the EAEU.
“When this issue becomes urgent, then we will have specific details and then we will conduct stress tests, if necessary. Right now, we are simply not considering this scenario,” Grigoryan stressed in an interview with Russian TV presenter Pavel Zarubin.
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