Russia destroyed 40,000 Armenian roses shipped via Belarus
Russia destroys Armenian roses
Officials from Russia‘s agricultural watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor in Smolensk Region discovered a shipment of freshly cut roses from Armenia that was being transported via Belarus.
According to the Belarusian outlet Euroradio, the shipment was deemed illegal because Russia has banned the import of nearly all Armenian goods since the spring.
Moscow says the import ban was imposed in response to what it described as violations of phytosanitary requirements. However, the restrictions were introduced after Armenia declared EU integration as a foreign policy goal, leading officials in Yerevan and the EU to view the move as politically motivated.
Russia has previously imposed similar trade restrictions on Georgia and Moldova to exert economic pressure amid political disagreements.
According to the accompanying documents, the lorry travelling from Belarus’s Minsk Region to Moscow was carrying non-alcoholic carbonated energy drinks. However, an inspection found 39,200 roses instead.
The flowers were being transported without the required phytosanitary certificates or shipping documents.
Rosselkhoznadzor said some of the boxes still bore labels identifying Armenia as the country of origin.
The roses were destroyed, while the carrier was held administratively liable.
Russia suspends flower imports from Iran over suspected re-exports from Armenia
Shortly after the reports emerged that Armenian roses transported via Belarus had been destroyed, Russia’s agricultural watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor suspended the certification of flowers for export to Russia from Iran, also over suspicions that they had been re-exported from Armenia.
The agency said flower shipments from Iran in 2026 had significantly exceeded the volume recorded during the same period last year.
Rosselkhoznadzor also said that although Iran was listed as the exporting country, the appearance of the flowers and their packaging were identical to products previously supplied from Armenia.
Background
Since early spring 2026, Russia has gradually introduced restrictions on Armenian products.
- Initially, the measures targeted Jermuk mineral water, followed by a range of alcoholic beverages.
- On 30 May, Russia banned imports from Armenia of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, herbs and strawberries.
- This was followed by a temporary ban imposed by the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) on the import of flowers and ornamental plants from Armenia.
- Rosselkhoznadzor has also reported problems with imports of certain livestock products, as well as fish and fish products.
- Armenia also received a letter from Russia warning of the possible termination of an agreement on supplies of natural gas, petroleum products and rough diamonds.
The restrictions imposed by Russia are significant for Armenia, as the Russian market has been the main destination for Armenian agricultural exports for decades.
The Armenian authorities are currently working, with active support from the European Union, to rapidly open alternative export markets for Armenian products.
