ArmInfo.We are in no way trying to assist the Russian Federation in circumventing sanctions. Armenian Economy Minister Vahan Kerobyan stated this to journalists during a briefing.
At the same time, he stressed that the reason for numerous publications in various foreign media that the Russian Federation is circumventing sanctions, including thanks to Armenia, according to the minister, is that Armenia and the Russian Federation are in the same economic and customs zone.
He emphasized that the ministry is trying to fulfill the provisions of EAEU agreements on the one hand, but at the same time to protect Armenian companies from secondary sanctions.
At the same time, he did not rule out that secondary sanctions may affect Armenia, noting that several companies have already been included in the Western sanctions list. However, Kerobyan assured that the ministry is doing everything with the available tools to protect the Armenian business sector from restrictive measures, while at the same time protecting the country's economic interests. "We are trying to properly explain this to our American and European partners," the head of the economics department said. At the same time, he noted that the ministry is following the instructions of its western partners in order not to fall into the risk zone. "In other words, our work is bearing its fruits. On the one hand, we have high economic growth, on the other hand, our economic and banking systems have not been subject to sanctions>. In March this year, the United States government has urged companies to commit to comply with sanctions against Russia imposed following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. US warns non-compliance could result in prosecution or enforcement. A joint Note from the Departments of Justice, Commerce and the Treasury states that "companies of all stripes must act responsibly by implementing strong compliance controls." The department said countries such as China, Armenia, Turkey and Uzbekistan that were used as "transshipment points" for "illicit diversion of prohibited goods to Russia or Belarus".
