Rosselkhoznadzor has extended the import ban to include grapes and stone fruits from Armenia.

Russian restrictions on imports of products from Armenia, effective June 2, apply to fresh grapes and stone fruits, including cherries. A previously imposed ban on tomatoes and cucumbers has already created difficulties for farmers selling their produce.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," Rosselkhoznadzor (Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance) imposed temporary restrictions on the import of flowers from Armenia starting May 22, 2026, and on fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, herbs, and strawberries starting May 30. Rospotrebnadzor explained the suspension of imports of all batches of Armenian mineral water "Jermuk" to Russia as a "temporary sanitary measure" due to detected excess chemical content. Rosselkhoznadzor also announced a ban on the import of certain cognacs and wines into Russia. Products from Armenia do not meet the phytosanitary requirements of the Eurasian Economic Union and Russia, Rosselkhoznadzor stated. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan called such bans common practice, while opposition members saw a political subtext in Russia's actions.

Rosselkhoznadzor (Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance) announced new "temporary restrictions" on fruit and vegetable products from Armenia today, citing "increasing violations in the supply of Armenian fruit." The agency criticized the reforms implemented in Armenia, which resulted in the abolition of the country's Ministry of Agriculture and the transfer of its powers to the Ministry of Economy.

"Considering the fact that products recently imported from Armenia do not meet the phytosanitary requirements of the Eurasian Economic Union and Russia, it can be assumed that the Armenian Ministry of Economy is experiencing structural problems and is unable to fulfill the responsibilities vested in it following the abolition of the Ministry of Agriculture," the agency's website stated.

Starting June 2, the import ban into Russia applies to fresh grapes, as well as stone fruits: apricots, plums, peaches, nectarines, cherries, and sweet cherries.

Large quantities of tomatoes were intended for shipment to Russia

Farmers who grew tomatoes for the Russian market are calling the sales situation dire. Armenian television channel 5 TV Channel published a report today under the headline: "After the closure of the Russian market, Armenian tomatoes are rotting in greenhouses." It notes that May and June are the peak season for tomato growers.

Farmer Samvel from Arshalusta, who built a tomato greenhouse with a loan, expressed regret in the report that "tomatoes have depreciated in value and there is no one to buy them." Previously, it was assumed that the harvested crop would generate a good income, which would be used to pay off the loan, but now he will have to sell the tomatoes cheaply.

Tomatoes were Armenia's main export to Russia until May 30th; 11,000 tons of tomatoes were exported in 2025, according to Tamara Reshetnikova, CEO of Growth Technologies.

According to her, greenhouses for growing tomatoes have been built in Armenia over the past 7-8 years with the expectation of exporting them to Russia, and now producers need to quickly find another market for their produce—both tomatoes and flowers, particularly roses, carnations, and tulips. "Armenia will suffer much more from the ban than Russia," Fontanka quoted Reshetnikova as saying on May 30.

The June 7 parliamentary elections in Armenia will effectively be a referendum on the future of Nikol Pashinyan's government and the country's foreign policy. At stake is the current team's retention of power or its transfer to the opposition, which promises to reconsider key decisions of recent years, according to the Caucasian Knot report "2026 Elections to the National Assembly (Parliament) of Armenia." Samvel Karapetyan's Strong Armenia, along with Robert Kocharyan's Armenia bloc and Gagik Tsarukyan's Prosperous Armenia Party, is one of the most pro-Russian parties in the Armenian parliamentary elections. The Kremlin is counting on Karapetyan, but by law he cannot participate in the elections, Armenian political scientists previously pointed out.

Farmers have faced problems supplying Armenian products to Russia before. 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.