A pro-government lawmaker in Armenia has suggested banning the import of dairy products from Russia in retaliation to a similar measure recently taken by Moscow.
Speaking before a government official at the National Assembly on Tuesday, Sisak Gabrielyan, a member of the parliamentary faction of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s Civil Contract party, expressed astonishment that Armenia continues to import Russian products while Russia does not allow Armenian dairy products to be imported.
“Every time entering our stores we see that there is a reduced amount of Armenian products on store shelves, while the products of the market that has banned imports of goods from Armenia are on sale,” the Armenian lawmaker said.
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Russia’s agricultural inspection body, Rosselkhoznadzor, had told relevant services in Armenia to stop the export of dairy products to Russia beginning on April 5, contending that the Veterinary Service of Armenia is unable to guarantee the safety of Armenian dairy products for Russian consumers.
Earlier, Rosselkhoznadzor applied temporary restrictions to the products of an Armenian fish-breeding company, claiming that coli bacteria had been found in its red caviar. The Max Fish company saw a political implication behind that decision.
The sale of some batches of Armenian Jermuk bottled mineral water was prohibited in Russia for several weeks since late December after Russian authorities said a resident of Vladikavkaz in Russia’s Republic of North Ossetia-Alania had died in hospital after suffering an acute stomach burn caused by a sip of liquid from a Jermuk mineral water bottle that ostensibly contained vinegar. The Armenian producer then denied any violations of technical requirements of production.
The series of bans on the import of Armenian products comes amid souring Armenian-Russian relations, with officials in Russia not hiding their anger over Armenia’s drifting away from its traditional ally and aligning with the West.
The European Union and the United States promised over $356 million in fresh assistance to Armenia last Friday as their top representatives met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian in Brussels to show support for his efforts to deepen Yerevan’s ties with the West.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the aid will help the South Caucasus nation increase its “resilience” and “diversify” its economy heavily dependent on Russia.