Armenian farmers seek new markets after Russian import limits

Russian bans and restrictions on Armenian goods have put pressure on farmers in Armenia's Ararat valley, including apricot growers whose exports have long depended heavily on Russia.

Russia imposed limits on a wide range of Armenian products, including fruits, vegetables, flowers, fish, Jermuk mineral water, wine and brandy, before parliamentary elections last month. Moscow said the measures were linked to unspecified sanitary concerns. The restrictions are widely viewed as economic pressure on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan after Yerevan moved away from Moscow and deepened ties with the European Union and the United States.

Aramais Kazaryan, a 75-year-old apricot farmer in the village of Vosketap, said the trade had continued for decades before suddenly changing. He said the pressure was affecting ordinary people rather than only Armenia's leadership. Kazaryan planted his orchard in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and Russia became the main market for much of the crop.

Pashinyan's party won the June 7 election despite pressure and allegations of interference from Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin has not formally congratulated him, and Moscow has raised alleged violations in the vote. Armenia remains a member of the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union and hosts a Russian military base, but it has frozen participation in a Moscow-led security bloc and has moved toward possible EU membership after Russia did not intervene during military conflicts with Azerbaijan over the then-disputed Karabakh region.

Armenia's government has approved support for farmers, including subsidies for greenhouse exports. It is also compensating customs duties on fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers exported to the EU. The European Commission has pledged more than 50 million euros in immediate assistance and measures giving nearly 80 percent of Armenian exports tariff-free access to the EU single market.

Central Bank Governor Martin Galstyan has warned that Armenia's economy could contract by up to two percent if exporters fail to find new markets. Economic analyst Ashot Aramyan said government steps and EU support may ease the shock only temporarily. He said Armenia exported nearly $200 million worth of fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers in 2025, with 93.3 percent going to Russia, and warned that the full harvest could not be redirected to Europe and other markets.

Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan told lawmakers that Armenian products should no longer be considered uncompetitive in Europe. Kazaryan also pointed to Italian investors planting orchards nearby and exporting back to Italy, but said many farmers remain worried about fruit that may have nowhere to go. He said Armenian farmers should put more emphasis on quality, rather than only high volumes, as they seek alternative markets.