Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Thursday that he will definitely visit Russia if such an invitation is extended.

Pashinyan said before the June 7 elections that he had agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold a meeting after the polls in the second half of June.

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that a potential meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin will be decided only after the final results of the Armenian parliamentary elections are published.

Pashinyan was asked about the potential visit on Thursday.

“There has been understanding regarding a visit to Russia, but there must be an invitation for me to go. If there is an invitation, I will go; I will definitely not refuse it,” Pashinyan said when asked if he plans to visit Russia and meet Putin.

Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party received 49.825% of the vote, while Samvel Karapetyan’s Strong Armenia Alliance secured 23.281%, and former president Robert Kocharyan’s Armenia Alliance received 9.934%.

Business tycoon Gagik Tsarukyan’s Prosperous Armenia Party is very close to the 4% electoral threshold, having secured 3.996% of the vote according to preliminary results. A recount is currently underway ahead of the final results announcement on June 14.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday welcomed the opening of the largest international floriculture marketplace to Armenian flower producers amid efforts to diversify export markets.

“The Prime Minister of the Netherlands personally wrote to me that they will support by all possible means so that Armenian flower producers can gain access to that market and platform,” Pashinyan said at a press briefing on Thursday.

Flowers grown in Armenia are among the many goods that Russia has banned, prompting Armenian exporters to look for new markets.

The Armenian government has rolled out relief programs for exporters to help them find new markets and avoid losses. The European Union has pledged continued support to Armenia, including efforts to identify and develop new export markets. The EU announced immediate financial assistance worth over €50 million, in addition to other measures.

Most recently, a batch of flowers produced in Armenia was shipped to Latvia, while the Netherlands also announced the opening of its market. It was also announced that apricots will be shipped to Poland.

The announcement on the flower market was earlier made by Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen.

Armenia and Azerbaijan must work together to address the issue of missing persons in both countries, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said.

Speaking at a press briefing after the Cabinet meeting on Thursday, Pashinyan added that Armenia has not forgotten the issue of its citizens imprisoned in Azerbaijan.

He said bilateral trade between the two countries is also a very important pillar of peace.

“All legal processes related to the [border] delimitation process have been finalized and are legally binding in both Armenia and Azerbaijan. Now we must focus on the implementation of the TRIPP project, as well as continue our work toward the signing and ratification of the peace treaty,” the Prime Minister said.

The next batch of petroleum products will be exported from Azerbaijan to Armenia on June 11, the APA news agency reported.

A total of 984 tons of diesel fuel, consisting of 17 rail tank cars, will be dispatched.

Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan said that the Armenian government continues to support exporters by subsidizing customs duties on a number of goods and a significant portion of transportation costs.

As a result, exports have already been shipped to Georgia, Greece, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and other countries.

The government has recently approved a support package for greenhouse producers amid Russian restrictions. 

“The government subsidizes customs duties and a significant part of transportation costs, as a result of which we already have exports to Georgia, Greece, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and many other countries,” the minister told lawmakers at a joint committee hearing when asked to provide an update on the matter.

There is no limit on export volumes within the framework of the program.

“The more is exported, the more we will subsidize the entire volume. I am pleased to note that with each passing day, export volumes continue to grow,” the minister said.

Papoyan also said that an additional support program will be adopted at today’s government session, which will cover the subsidization of transportation costs for exports of non-greenhouse products.

“In particular, we are talking about fruits and vegetables, which are non-greenhouse products. There will also be customs duty reimbursement, which typically ranges from 8.5% to 14.5%,” he said.

The Minister of Economy emphasized that a significant share of Armenia’s products is not inferior in quality to goods offered in European markets. According to him, intensive orchards and greenhouse farms in Armenia are technologically identical to similar facilities in leading European countries.

“The intensive orchards in the Republic of Armenia are absolutely identical to the intensive orchards in Greece, Italy, Spain, and France. The greenhouse farms in Armenia are the same as those in Spain, Italy, France, or Germany. There is no difference in methods or technology whatsoever,” Papoyan stressed.

The minister noted that the products obtained from these farms meet the highest standards, and a significant portion has the necessary international certifications.

“That production meets all standards. That is why when we subsidize it, for example, and it reaches the European market, it sells quickly,” Papoyan said.

According to him, Armenia’s main problem is not the quality of its products, but its geographical distance from large markets, which results in higher transportation costs.

“Armenia is at a certain geographical distance from the European market and is still not bordering the European Union. Because of this distance, certain technical issues arise,” the minister noted.

Papoyan gave the example of strawberries produced in Armenia, emphasizing that they are grown using the same technology as in France.

“The strawberries produced in the Republic of Armenia are the same as those produced in the French Republic. They are produced with the same technologies, the same equipment, the same seedlings, and the same methods. There is nothing that differentiates them,” he said.

The minister added that in modern greenhouse farming, pest control is often carried out not with pesticides, but through biological methods.

“Pesticides are not used; pests are controlled using biological methods. A French company comes, carries out the construction, French specialists monitor plant growth, and the seedlings are brought from the same source,” Papoyan noted.

He said it is necessary to abandon the perception that Armenian products have quality issues and cannot be sold in international markets.

“The products of the Republic of Armenia are of high quality and meet all standards. The days when people said our goods are not good and cannot be sold anywhere are over. We do not have a quality competitiveness problem at all, but we do have a price competitiveness problem for objective reasons,” the minister said.

Papoyan explained that within European countries, transportation distances are much shorter, whereas exporting goods from Armenia to European markets requires more time and higher costs.

He noted that competitiveness issues should be addressed by increasing productivity and expanding production volumes. He also emphasized that productivity in Armenia has doubled over the past 7–8 years.

Responding to a question from MP Arusyak Manavazyan on whether exporters and individuals in agriculture face problems, the minister said it would not be correct to claim there are no issues.

“To say there are no problems would not be correct. There are problems. For example, a producer who has exported to Russia all his life is now exporting to Greece. That is already a shock for him; he has to learn something new,” Papoyan said.

According to him, entering new markets also brings technical and documentation-related challenges.

“There are various issues. For example, documents related to transit through Türkiye were needed, which had to be learned for the first time—what they are, and studying regulations. So yes, there are issues and there will be more,” the minister noted.

At the same time, Papoyan emphasized that a significant portion of products manufactured in Armenia—especially those produced in intensive orchards and greenhouse farms established through state support programs—meets all required standards.

“These are intensive orchards covering thousands of hectares and greenhouse farms covering hundreds of hectares. They fully comply with all standards and can easily be sold in the United Arab Emirates, the European Union, the United States of America, the Russian Federation, and other countries,” Papoyan concluded.

Russia has recently been imposing increasing restrictions on the import of Armenian goods, ranging from flowers and certain fruits and vegetables to mineral water, citing phytosanitary violations.

The Armenian government has rolled out relief programs for exporters to help them find new markets and avoid losses. The European Union has pledged continued support to Armenia, including efforts to identify and develop new export markets. The EU announced immediate financial assistance worth over €50 million, in addition to other measures.

Most recently, a batch of flowers produced in Armenia was shipped to Latvia, while the Netherlands also announced the opening of its market. It was also announced that apricots will be shipped to Poland.

The Cabinet approved on Thursday a new support package designed to help exporters find new markets amid Russian trade restrictions.

The latest support measure pertains to the export of fresh fruit, bottled grape wine, brandy, and mineral water.

Deputy Minister of Economy Arman Khojoyan recalled that last week the government had approved a similar measure to support the export of greenhouse products from Armenia, including fresh tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, and flowers. The aim of the program is to promote export market diversification and the formation of new supply chains.

“In this context, the draft proposes approving a second similar measure to promote the export of apricots, plums, cherries, mineral water, and brandy. The draft proposes compensating economic operators exporting during June at the following rates: 200 drams per kilogram of apricots; 250 drams per kilogram of plums, peaches, and nectarines; 400 drams per kilogram of cherries; 350 drams per liter of bottled grape wine; 830 drams per liter of bottled brandy (in absolute alcohol equivalent); and 150 drams for mineral water,” Khojoyan said.

According to Khojoyan, the adoption of the decision will make it possible to diversify export markets and support the normal operation of companies.

The Deputy Minister clarified that the draft applies to exporters who carried out shipments starting from June 1.

He said that since June 1, around 257,000 kg of cherries and 64,900 kg of apricots have already been exported, and companies that carried out these exports will also be eligible for the program and can receive compensation at the end of the month.

According to analyses by the Ministry of Economy, export volumes of eligible products under the program in June 2026 are expected to reach around 11,500 tons, including 7,000 tons of apricots, 2,000 tons of cherries, 2,000 tons of plums, 500 tons of peaches and nectarines, 290,000 liters of bottled grape wine, 800,000 liters of brandy (in absolute alcohol equivalent), and 2,000,000 liters of mineral water.

Russia has recently been imposing increasing restrictions on the import of Armenian goods, ranging from flowers and certain fruits and vegetables to mineral water, citing alleged phytosanitary violations, despite Armenian officials saying that the Armenian agricultural output meets high international standards. 

The Armenian government has rolled out relief programs for exporters to help them find new markets and avoid losses. The European Union has pledged continued support to Armenia, including efforts to identify and develop new export markets. The EU announced immediate financial assistance worth over €50 million, in addition to other measures.

Most recently, a batch of flowers produced in Armenia was shipped to Latvia, while the Netherlands also announced the opening of its market. It was also announced that apricots will be shipped to Poland.

Armenian citizens currently have no reason to be concerned about possible changes in gas tariffs, according to officials. 

Armenia continues to receive gas supplies under normal conditions and at the existing tariff, Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure David Khudatyan has said, referring to media reports about a potential gas price hike by Russia, which supplies natural gas.

“In my view, the media commentary is much worse than what is actually happening on the ground. On the ground, we are receiving gas supplies in a normal manner, at the established tariff, and we are working with our partners as we have done before. There is nothing additional to comment on,” Khudatyan said.

In response to a journalist’s question on whether there has been any official request regarding a tariff revision, the minister said there is no official information other than what has already been reported in the media.

He noted that on May 27, Russian Energy Minister Sergey Tsivilyov sent a letter to Armenia’s Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure. In the letter, the Russian side reportedly threatened that it might unilaterally suspend or cancel agreements on the supply of gas, petroleum products, and rough diamonds if Yerevan continues its EU accession process.

“No, there is no official information regarding a tariff revision other than what was published in the media about a month ago. We received a letter with that content through our Russian partner ministry, but I must again emphasize that we are managing our risks, including those related to possible price increases. Allow me not to go into too much detail, but we are managing our risks because the situation is not exactly as it may appear at first glance,” the minister noted.

Asked whether Armenia could face European-level gas prices in the future, Khudatyan said he could not predict future developments but stressed that citizens currently have no reason for concern.

“I cannot say what will happen in the future. I can say that at this moment, citizens have no reason for concern in this regard,” he said.

He added that the current contract between Armenia and Russia expires after the winter season, and contractual relations are continuing normally for now.

“We have a contract, and it expires after the winter season. There must be grounds for unilateral termination of the contract. We are working normally; we are receiving gas at the same tariff and under the same supply schedule as before,” he said.

According to the minister, working relations with Russian partners remain at a good level and there have been no changes in this regard.

“We have very good working relations with our partners. Nothing has changed in our working relations,” he noted.

Russia currently sells natural gas to Armenia for $177.50 per thousand cubic meters, while in Europe it costs up to $633 per thousand cubic meters.

Earlier in May, Moscow warned that Armenia could lose preferential Russian gas prices if it leaves the Eurasian Economic Union.

Armenia has potential alternative sources of natural gas imports, and current consumer tariffs will remain unchanged until early 2027 even if the price of Russian gas rises, the head of the country’s energy regulator said on Thursday.

According to Mesrop Mesropyan, Chairman of Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission, even if the price of Russian natural gas supplied to Armenia increases, current consumer tariffs will remain in effect until the beginning of 2027.

“There are alternatives in the region—from Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Iran. Naturally, we would purchase gas from any country that sells it and from which existing infrastructure allows us to import it,” Mesropyan said at a press briefing in parliament.

He noted that around 30–35% of Armenia’s electricity is generated by thermal power plants, meaning that any increase in gas prices would have a negative impact on electricity tariffs.

“The existence of solar power plants alone helps ensure that we do not face the severe energy crisis experienced in the 1990s. Investments in energy storage facilities will also help mitigate these challenges,” he added.

Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) will impose restrictions on the import of quarantine-regulated products from Armenia starting June 12, 2026.

According to a statement issued by Rosselkhoznadzor, the measure applies both to products manufactured in Armenia and to goods shipped from the country.

The agency said transit of such products through Russian territory to other member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) will also be restricted. “The ban will remain in force until a special algorithm is developed to ensure the safety and traceability of the supplied products,” the statement said.

Rosselkhoznadzor noted that the decision was taken due to the repeated detection of quarantine pests in imported goods.

“Since May of this year, the service has gradually restricted imports of certain categories of Armenian quarantine-regulated products and has repeatedly informed the Armenian side about disruptions in supplies. Despite this, detections of quarantine organisms have continued. In June, three cases of infestation by the khapra beetle were identified in walnuts, dried peaches and dried tomatoes imported from Armenia,” Rosselkhoznadzor said.

According to the agency, this allegedly indicates insufficient oversight by Armenia’s competent authority and undermines confidence in the country’s phytosanitary certification system.

 “The ineffectiveness of Armenia’s Plant Quarantine and Protection Service poses a threat to the phytosanitary well-being of Russia and the EAEU,” Rosselkhoznadzor said, adding that the khapra beetle is a storage pest that is not present in Russia.

The agency stated that the pest can damage grain crops, oilseed crops, legumes, industrial crops and their by-products, as well as forest, ornamental and other plants.

“It can infest grain storage facilities, transport vehicles, raw material and flour warehouses, mills, feed plants, confectionery factories, malt storage facilities and other sites. It can destroy up to 70% of stored products,” the statement said.

Rosselkhoznadzor also noted that economic damage to the Russian Federation could arise not only from crop losses and the costs of containment and eradication measures, but also from the possible loss of export markets in countries where the khapra beetle is not classified as a quarantine pest.

In recent months, Russia has restricted or completely banned imports of a number of Armenian products, citing the discovery of various violations. Such measures intensified in the period leading up to Armenia’s parliamentary elections.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has taken a one-day leave on June 12, his office announced.