The number of bans on imports of goods from Armenia to Russia has increased ahead of parliamentary elections.

Rosselkhoznadzor (Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance) announced a ban on the import of certain cognacs and wines into Russia, including 37 million bottles of Jermuk mineral water. Pashinyan called such bans common practice, while opposition members saw political overtones in Russia's actions.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot," Rosselkhoznadzor imposed temporary restrictions on the import of flowers from Armenia starting May 22, 2026. The Armenian Ministry of Economy stated that it had not received official notification of the restrictions and could not specify the duration of the restrictions. Rospotrebnadzor explained the suspension of all imports of Armenian mineral water "Jermuk" to Russia as a "temporary sanitary measure" due to the detected excess of chemical substances.

The import of a number of wine and cognac brands is prohibited

Rospotrebnadzor announced today the suspension of sales in the Russian Federation of "identified low-quality" alcoholic beverages from Armenia, namely wine and cognac produced by Vedi-Alco, Abovyan Brandy Factory, and Shahnazaryan Wine and Cognac House.

"Rospotrebnadzor monitors products in circulation, including alcoholic beverages. As a result of the measures, products manufactured by Vedi-Alco CJSC, Abovyan Brandy Factory LLC, and Shahnazaryan Wine and Brandy House LLC (Republic of Armenia) were identified as non-compliant with mandatory requirements,” the agency’s website states.

“In order to prevent the sale of products that do not meet mandatory requirements, trade enterprises and importers were notified of the suspension of product sales and the withdrawal of low-quality alcoholic beverages from circulation,” Rospotrebnadzor added.

It is specified that the following products “non-compliant with mandatory requirements” are “Getap Vernashen Ordinary Varietal Red Semi-Dry Wine” (11% alcohol, 0.75 l, bottling 03.02.2025) and “Vedi Alco Ordinary Varietal White Dry Wine” Kharji, T3 "Arni Legends" (12% alcohol, 0.75 l, bottling on December 17, 2024) produced by Vedi-Alco CJSC.

Also on the list of "low-quality" products is "Ordinary five-year-old cognac "Armenian Cognac 5 Stars" (40% alcohol, 0.5 l, bottling on January 20, 2025), produced by Abovyan Brandy Factory LLC (Republic of Armenia, Abovyan). In addition, a "non-compliance" was found in the "Armenian brandy vintage aged "KV" seven-year-old "Shahnazaryan XO" (40% alcohol, 0.5 l, bottling 05/16/2025), produced by the "Shahnazaryan Wine and Brandy House" LLC (Republic of Armenia, Yeghvard).

The ban on the import of "Jermuk" affects 37 million bottles

The ban by Rospotrebnadzor on the sale of "Jermuk" water from Armenia affected 37 million bottles, reported the Center for the Development of Advanced Technologies (CRPT), the operator of the state labeling system "Honest Sign." The blocking affected mineral, natural, medicinal, and table drinking water, as well as carbonated water, including those with flavor additives, available in PET and glass containers of 0.33, 0.5, 1, and 1.5 liters.

The CRPT, on the instructions of Rospotrebnadzor, suspended the sale of Jermuk water due to "the need to take urgent measures to prevent possible harm to the life and health of citizens of the Russian Federation." Shipments and sales of these products through retail and online channels will be blocked until official permission is received from the agency, the organization emphasized. Revaz Yusupov, Deputy Director General of the Center for Agricultural Development and the Environment, noted that the Honest Sign system is integrated with every cash register in the country, Forbes reports.

Rosselkhoznadzor Head Sergei Dankvert stated on May 22 that the agency is recording problems with shipments from Armenia not only of flowers but also of fruits and vegetables.

"The problem is that it's not just flowers that are problematic. “We also have problems with fruits and vegetables,” Vesti quoted him as saying on May 22.

Pashinyan called import bans a common practice

Restrictions on the export of flowers from Armenia are a common situation when goods do not meet phytosanitary standards, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told journalists, writes Aravot.

He He stated that such restrictions had always existed, since any product that doesn't meet phytosanitary standards is banned. He said similar situations had arisen dozens of times over the past eight years.

"As the saying goes, friendship is friendship, and service is service. What does friendship have to do with labor issues? If relations are friendly, does that mean there should be goods that do not meet EAEU standards, that we should go beyond all the rules?" his words were quoted in a publication dated May 22.

The opposition called the issue political

When the Armenian authorities provoke and speak in the language of blackmail with a state like Russia, they should expect different restrictions to be introduced every day. This was stated by the leader of the Strong Armenia party and candidate for prime minister Samvel Karapetyan. He promised that after June 7, any issue that arises will be resolved within a day.

"We must pursue a balanced policy with Russia, the European Union, and the United States of America," the leader of Strong Armenia emphasized, News.Am quotes him as saying.

Strong Armenia representative Narek Karapetyan stated at a meeting with voters on May 23 in the city of Vagharshapat in the Armavir region that the bans are the result of the government's short-sighted policy, due to which the Russian Federation has closed the entry of Armenian products.

Karapetyan noted that following the flowers, all other producers will also come under attack, which will lead to the complete bankruptcy of villages and the destruction of the economy created by the hard work of ordinary citizens, the agency writes.

Representatives of the opposition must stop encouraging, provoking and calling on Russia to impose sanctions against Armenia, said Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Alen Simonyan, answering a question about the reasons for Russia's sanctions against Armenian goods.

"Contact Kaluga's Samvel Karapetyan, Robert Kocharyan, Gagik Tsarukyan, ask them, is it good for them that every day a video appears where their supporters are accused of handing out money, and at the same time they say that Russia is about to do something...", Aysor.Am quotes him as saying

In August 2025, hundreds of trucks carrying grapes, plums, and peaches were not allowed to enter Russia at the Upper Lars checkpoint and were forced to return to Armenia. This problem is political in nature, said opposition MP Garnik Danielyan.

The "Caucasian Knot" also wrote that in February 2024, a resident of North Ossetia died after taking a sip from a bottle of Jermuk mineral water that contained vinegar. On January 19, it became known that Oleg Gusov's relatives filed a lawsuit. A lawsuit for one and a half billion rubles against an Armenian water producer, as well as its representative and distributors in Russia. Jermuk Group CJSC denied the accusation by the family of Vladikavkaz businessman Oleg Gusov that the Armenian company was involved in his death.