The European Union pledged on Thursday to provide Armenia with at least 50 million euros ($58 million) in urgent economic assistance designed to help the country mitigate potentially severe consequences of a Russian embargo on key Armenian imports.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the aid after a phone call with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian. She reiterated the EU’s condemnation of Russia’s decisions to essentially ban the multimillion-dollar import of Armenian fruits, vegetables, flowers and beverages in response to the Armenian government’s efforts to eventually join the EU.
“By extending export restrictions on Armenian products, Moscow is weaponizing economic relations for political pressure,” von der Leyen said in a statement.
“We are preparing an EU support package,” she said. “It includes immediate financial assistance, worth over 50 million euro. And more will come.”
Von der Leyen also promised EU “measures to ease the trade for some Armenian products, in particular agri-food.” Armenia is already making a first shipment of 10,000 flowers to EU member Latvia, she added in that regard.
Armenia reportedly exported 52 million flowers to Russia in January-May 2025 alone. The figure represented an almost 50 increase from the year-earlier period.
Armenian agricultural exports to Russia have also grown rapidly over the past 10-15 years. According to Russian officials, they totaled over $700 million last year. Armenia’s overall exports to Russia reached almost $3 billion, compared with $667 million worth of goods exported to EU member states.
Responding to the Russian import bans imposed over the last two weeks, Pashinian and his close associates have urged domestic farmers and agribusiness firms dependent on the Russian market to diversify their exports. On Thursday, the Armenian government approved subsidies for exporters that will sell their produce in countries other than Russia. They will be paid between 275 and 770 drams ($0.75-$2) for every kilogram of fruits and vegetables and 37 drams per flower exported to the EU or other markets.
Armenian opposition leaders dismissed the financial support as a publicity stunt, saying that Pashinian and his Civil Contract party are misleading the affected voters ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary elections. They as well as some economists and entrepreneurs say that Armenia will need at least years to find new markets. They point to a higher cost of transporting goods to the EU and the bloc’s stringent food safety standards and protectionist policies.
The Russian sanctions followed the May 4-5 European summits in Yerevan during which Pashinian reaffirmed his government’s EU membership ambitions. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on May 9 statement that Yerevan can no longer combine that policy with its membership in a Russian-led trade bloc that gives Armenia tariff-free access to Russia. Moscow has also threatened to stop supplying Russian natural gas to the South Caucasus nation at a significant discount vital for the Armenian economy.
“We are not going to pay for Armenia’s journey to the European Union,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reiterated on Thursday.
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Armenia’s election to test Pashinyan’s peace drive after war defeat
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EU to help Armenian exporters access new markets amid Russian trade restrictio
The European Union is preparing to support exports of Armenian flowers to the European market, particularly to Latvia and the Netherlands, Ambassador Vassilis Maragos, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia, has said.
Flowers grown in Armenia are among the domestic products affected by Russia’s import ban, prompting producers to search for new markets.
“Today, we will present a measure on how we will help export Armenia’s excellent flowers to the European market, particularly to Latvia. In addition, discussions are underway regarding exports to the Netherlands,” the EU ambassador said at a meeting with Armenian exporters organized by the International Trade Centre.
Ambassador Maragos said that the European Union Delegation to Armenia and EU member states are joining efforts to identify ways to support Armenian producers and exporters by increasing EU assistance in this area and helping the Armenian economy continue its development while finding new export markets.
“We already have a certain support framework in place, which we are seeking to expand and complement with new measures in order to create new opportunities for producers and exporters,” Ambassador Maragos said.
He stressed that discussions on these issues are taking place at the level of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen with the aim of assisting Armenia and its economic partners.
“This is not a new support measure. It is a continuation of what we are already doing, as we seek to support the diversification of Armenia’s economy,” the EU ambassador to Armenia said.
Russia has been imposing growing restrictions in recent weeks on the import of Armenian goods, ranging from flowers and certain fruits and vegetables to mineral water, fish, and alcoholic drinks, citing phytosanitary violations.
Armenia’s Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan has said that Armenian exportable fruits and vegetables have a GlobalG.A.P. certificate, one of the highest-level certifications, and that efforts are underway to find new markets, particularly in the EU.
Details of the EU’s support measures were released following a phone call between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Published by Armenpress, original at
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The EAEU to develop a procedure to “freeze” Armenia’s membership
June 4 2026
The EAEU to develop a procedure to “freeze” Armenia’s membership
Yerevan /Mediamax/. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk stated that the EAEU Treaty does not currently provide for a procedure for suspending a member state’s participation or for its withdrawal.
“We will now examine what a suspension would entail. The fact is that the Union Treaty does not provide for a suspension of membership or for the expulsion of members. Therefore, all of this must be examined very carefully from a legal standpoint by December,” he told Interfax.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has previously stated that decisions within the EAEU are made by consensus and that Armenia cannot be expelled from the union.
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At the moment, searches are being conducted at more than 50 addresses. CC:
At the moment, searches are being conducted at more than 50 addresses. This is reported by the CC.
“In the course of the preliminary investigation of the criminal proceedings initiated in connection with the case of financial interest of many persons and money laundering of particularly large amounts, more than 50 addresses are being searched,” reports Kima Avdalyan.
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ՌԴ հետ տնտեսական պատերազմի հետևանքները ծանր են լինելու, մարդիկ կսննկանան. Ծառ
Այս իշխանությունն ամբողջ օրը հայտարարում է, թե ճանապարհներ են սարքել, դպրոցներ: Ութը տարում նրանք կառուցել են 59 դպրոց, որից 26-ը կառուցած է եղել: Սա ասում եմ հիմնավորած: Իսկ բացի այդ, այս տարի 230 դպրոց փակվելու է իրենց սխալ քաղաքականության պատճառով: Այս մասին 168-ին տված հարցազրույցի ժամանակ ասաց ԲՀԿ նախագահ Գագիկ Ծառուկյանը:
Նույն կոնտեքստում նա հիշատակեց նաև գյուղատնտեսության նախարարության փակվելը, թեև, մատնանշեց, 450 000 ավելի հեկտար հող ունենք, որ պետք է մշակվի, գյուղացին պետք է մշակի հողն ու աօրի.
“Ինչի՞ համար, որ ադրբեջանցին գա ապրի: Հիմա Վարդենիսում, բոլոր բարձունքներում մեր հողերի մեջ ադրբեջանցիները բետոնապատել են ու նստած են: Ես արդեն հայտարարել եմ. եթե վարչապետը ցույց կտա փաստաթուղթը, որում խաղաղության բարեկամության հիմքն է ամրագրված՝ ես ներողություն կխնդրեմ: Բայց ոչ մի թուղթ խաղաղության մասին չկա, հակառակը՝ կան պահանջներ զիջումների, անկլավների ու մնացածի մասով”,- ասաց Ծառուկյանը:
Նրա խոսքով, այս իշխանությունը խաղաղություն-խաղաղություն այնքան ասաց, որ մեր ժողովրդի գլխին բերեց տնտեսական պատերազմ Ռուսաստանի հետ, իսկ դրա հետևանքը լինելու է սննկացում, աղքատություն, քանի որ եթե մարդը չի կարող վաճառել իր արտադրանքը, ապա այլ հետևանք լինել չի կարող.
“Տարեկան 3 մլրդ դոլար գումար է գալիս ՌԴ-ից այդ ապրանքի դիմաց, իսկ այսօր դա չկա ու մարդիկ չգիտեն՝ ինչպե՞ս են աշխատավարձ տալու, վարկ փակելու: Սննկանալու է, ամեն ինչ ձեռքից վերցնելու են”:
Տնտեսությունը, ըստ ԲՀԿ առաջնորդի, մեկ օրում չեն կարող կայացնել, ոտքի հանել, այս ամենը քսան և ավելի տարվա պատմություն ունի, հետևապես ՔՊ-ականների հայտարարություններո, թե այլընտրանք կգտնեն, մարդիկ չանհանգստանան ուղղակի մերկապարանոց խոսքեր են.
“They can’t create an alternative for ten years, it’s out of the question. They can take a car, but they can’t sell all the goods, all the volume that the Russian market was used to. And after his behavior, no one in our country will invest a single penny… in these eight years, not a single major investment has been made in Armenia,” he stressed.
According to Tsarukyan, the fact that this government did not succeed in any issue during eight years is because the important positions were not appointed to specialists, professionals in the field, people with rich life experience, but to those who walked with them.
As for the accusation made against him by the authorities that he is a spy, Gagik Tsarukyan said that it is not just saying, they have to prove it, bring facts. He also cited Andranik Tevanyan as an example, noting that even though he is detained, there is no factual basis for accusation.
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Armenia is discussing the issue of reducing customs duties with the EU. Mirzoyan
The Armenian government has expanded the state support program for exports, including primary agricultural producers, and in parallel, diplomatic negotiations are underway with Brussels to establish customs privileges for Armenian products.
RA Deputy Minister of Economy Arman Khojoyan with clarification, strategic changes have been made in the plan effective from 2025. If in the past the full reimbursement of customs duties for exports to the EU, the United Kingdom and Canada concerned only the processing industry, now the state is ready to fully cover the customs costs for the export of fresh fruits and vegetables and flowers.
The deputy minister emphasized that thanks to intensive horticulture and high-tech greenhouses, Armenia today produces competitive products that meet international standards, and the previous stage of the project has already ensured a 40 percent increase in the export of canned goods and juices.
At the same time, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan announced that active discussions are underway with European partners in order to create favorable conditions for Armenian producers. According to the Foreign Minister, it is expected that the EU, in its turn, will take certain steps in the direction of revising customs duties. The minister expressed hope that this dialogue will be successful in the near future, which will open new prospects for local exporters in the western markets.
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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RFE/RL – Dozens More Oppositionists Arrested Ahead Of Armenian Elections
- Naira Bulghadarian
- Satenik Kaghzvantsian
Armenian law-enforcement authorities arrested 27 more opposition members and supporters on Thursday in a continuing crackdown on the main opposition groups running in the June 7 parliamentary elections.
Billionaire Samvel Karapetian’s Strong Armenia alliance and the Hayastan bloc led by former President Robert Kocharian said the fresh arrests are part of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s efforts to boost his electoral chances.
The Investigative Committee raided in the morning as many 50 nationwide campaign offices of Strong Armenia, which is widely regarded as the ruling Civil Contract party’s number one election challenger. It made 25 arrests as part of a criminal case opened against Aleksan Aleksanian, an aide to Karapetian who was arrested on vote-buying charges on Tuesday.
According to the committee, since last September Aleksanian has hired some 1,400 people to work for a non-governmental organization that formed the backbone of Karapetian’s opposition movement. It claims that they were paid to attend the movement’s rallies under the guise of their wages. Both Aleksanian and Strong Armenia reject the accusations as politically motivated.
Tigran Hayrapetian, a lawyer representing them, argued that it would not have made sense for Aleksanian to bribe so many campaigners for ten consecutive months.
“People have been working [for Karapetian’s movement] since September, meaning they have worked for 10 months and have received a [monthly] salary of 200,000 drams ($540) each in a manner defined by the law,” said Hayrapetian.
“We and our supporters are not afraid of the repressions,” Strong Armenia spokeswoman Marianna Ghahramanian told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.
The bloc’s leaders made similar defiant statements when they addressed tens of thousands of supporters during a campaign rally in Yerevan’s central Republic Square on Wednesday evening. It was one of the biggest rallies held in Armenia since the 2018 “velvet revolution.”
Dozens and possibly hundreds of other Strong Armenia members or supporters have been arrested in recent months on charges of giving or taking vote bribes. The authorities have opened a smaller number of such criminal cases against Kocharian’s Hayastan and the other opposition heavyweight, businessman Gagik Tsarukian’s Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK).
Another law-enforcement agency, the Anti-Corruption Committee (ACC), on Thursday searched Hayastan’s campaign offices in Gyumri and detained two persons working there. It did not comment on the raids in the next few hours.
“They have confiscated the office computers and several documents,” said Hovik Petrosian, a Gyumri-based oppositionist running for the Armenian parliament on the Hayastan ticket.
Hovannes Khudoyan, a Hayastan lawyer, expressed confidence that the continuing arrests and searches will not influence the election results in Pashinian’s favor. The bloc’s leaders claimed, for their part, that Pashinian is desperate to prevent his party’s defeat with such actions.
No Civil Contract members or supporters have been prosecuted on election-related charges to date. Pashinian party is increasingly accused by the opposition and some media outlets of illegally forcing public sector employees to attend its rallies and pledge to vote for it. It denies the accusations.
On Wednesday, at least two Strong Armenia and Hayastan supporters were assaulted by government loyalists in separate incidents caught on camera. Nobody was arrested or charged in connection with the violence.
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Ankara’s silent carte blanche. Why does Erdogan support Pashinyan’s election?
June: 4, 2026
After the Pashinyan-Putin telephone conversation, Pashinyan’s telephone conversation with the Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan took place on June 2.
According to the message of the RA government, Pashinyan sent his best wishes to Erdogan on the occasion of the last Kurban Bayram. According to the report, Erdogan congratulated Pashinyan on his 51st birthday.
“The interlocutors also exchanged ideas on the issues of the bilateral agenda and expressed satisfaction with the occasion of the activation of contacts. In particular, the visit of Turkey’s Vice President Cevded Yilmaz to Armenia to participate in the European Political Community Summit, the decision to establish Turkey-Armenia direct trade procedures and the opening of the Akhalkalak-Kars railway for exports from Armenia and imports to Armenia were highlighted,” the message said.
The message spread by the Turkish side was almost indistinguishable from the message of the RA government, there were minor differences. The message of the Turkish presidency was more brief, it did not contain any mention of birthday congratulations or other emphasis. “During the conversation, the process of regulating Turkey-Armenia bilateral relations, as well as regional issues, was also touched upon. President Erdoğan announced that the settlement between Turkey and Armenia continues with steps aimed at starting direct trade.
Emphasizing that Turkey is making efforts to establish peace and stability in our region, President Erdoğan added that they will always support the steps to be taken in this direction,” said the message from the Turkish side.
It is noteworthy that this phone call follows Putin’s call to Pashinyan on the occasion of the latter’s birthday.
“The interlocutors also exchanged ideas on the current issues of the bilateral and multilateral agenda. The Prime Minister of Armenia thanked the President of the Russian Federation for his balanced positions, friendly tone, and support on a number of issues that give rise to mutual understanding,” said the message about the telephone conversation.
It should be noted that this year Pashinyan received birthday congratulations only from the heads and prime ministers of 4 CIS partners, as well as from the head of Turkey. In the light of the European integration vector of the RA foreign policy, it is noteworthy that Pashinyan did not receive congratulations from his Western partners.
168.amin a conversation with Russian Turkologist Viktor Nadein-Raevsky said that the personal congratulation of Nikol Pashinyan by the President of Turkey is not only a manifestation of ordinary diplomatic etiquette, but also political support from Ankara to the RA government.
According to him, this position of the Turkish side is conditioned by the general vision of regional processes that currently exists in the region. Naturally, according to the analyst, few people seem to share this vision in Armenia, so the change of power in Armenia can change this process and this foreign policy. “At present, important progress has been recorded for Turkey and Azerbaijan in a number of directions in relations with Armenia without much effort, while simultaneously maintaining the agenda of preconditions with Armenia. The continuity of the current government has provided an opportunity for Armenia-Turkey relations the current regulation and the atmosphere of predictability in it,” said the analyst, adding that this is also due to the fact that global agreements have been reached, they have geopolitical significance, such as the road connecting Azerbaijan to Azerbaijan through the RA territory and then to Turkey. As for the mention of the steps aimed at the start of direct trade, then, according to him, the subject of trade and export is currently extremely relevant for the Armenian side.
“Against the background of export problems to Russia, the RA authorities should try to show that Armenia has alternatives and can reach new agreements with Turkey, Azerbaijan or the West, that is, it is not dependent only on Russia from an economic and commercial point of view. It also has pre-election significance, because society needs to show that Armenia is able to create alternatives if there are problems in the Russian direction. People do not study in depth whether these alternatives really exist, but the conversations and statements about them create that impression, so this the observation that announcements about new trade agreements with the EU are made in this context,” said Victor Nadein-Raevsky.
Speaking about the perspective of Akhalkalak-Kars railway operation, the Turkologist said that this is also presented in the pre-election stage as a foreign political achievement of the current government, which allows Armenian voters to present concrete results of regional de-blockade and economic development. “In this case, many people do not study how this supports the Armenian economy and what benefits it will bring, but the announcement about it may have a certain effect,” the analyst noted. The latter drew attention to the fact that along with all this, the Armenian-Turkish border is not yet open, the relations are not established, because Azerbaijan is waiting for constitutional changes in Armenia, after which maybe the Peace Agreement will be signed and steps from Turkey will follow.
He believes that the support addressed by Erdogan to Pashinyan should also be considered through the prism of Ankara-Moscow regional competition and positioning. In his opinion, it is no coincidence that the call of the Turkish leader followed the phone call of the Russian president, which indicates the competition between major regional players. “Nevertheless, it should be noted that the future course of Armenia-Turkey relations is not strongly determined by individuals. Ankara’s strategic calculations are based on deep, geopolitical realities and self-interest. This means that Turkey is ready for different scenarios, and at the core of it all is the further goal of strengthening its own influence. However, before further developments, many people are waiting for the results of the elections,” said Victor Nadein-Raevsky.
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Armenia will not choose between the state and strawberries – Prime Minister
“We will not give in. This is a false alternative. We will not give up on the state, but that does not mean giving up on strawberries. We will have both the state and the strawberries, we will have AI factories, a developed energy sector, prosperity, independence, development, and the state,” Pashinyan said.
According to the Prime Minister, no one should think that Armenia will have to choose between prosperity and the state. “No. We have chosen that the state is an instrument of prosperity, and the state should bring us prosperity, happiness, and development from generation to generation,” he said.
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