Situation at the Upper Lars checkpoint was expected - expert 

ArmInfo.The situation at the Upper Lars checkpoint was expected, Gagik Aghajanyan, CEO, Apaven  forwarding company, told ArmInfo. 

According to him, one should not be surprised by the behavior of the  Russian authorities, returning Armenian trucks with cargo under the  pretext of violations of phytosanitary standards. The specialist  added that what is happening at the checkpoint is the result of the  policy of the Armenian authorities. Russia, as Agadzhanyan  emphasized, is using old, proven methods that it previously used  against products from Turkey, Moldova, Georgia and other countries.

Answering the question that, unlike the above countries, Armenia is a  member of the Eurasian Economic Union, the specialist recalled that  both Moldova and Georgia were members of the CIS.  "Moscow resorts to  these actions regardless of what association this or that state is  in, in relation to any partner who shows, so to speak, an unfriendly  attitude towards it," the company's executive director emphasized.

However, as Agadzhanyan noted, sanctions are not applied to the cargo  that the company's trucks deliver to the recipient, since the cargo  itself does not fall under phytosanitary standards. "We mainly have  cognac and ore. They will not return foil made from imported Russian  aluminum.  "Everything that is happening today at the border is the  result of a deterioration in bilateral relations," said the head of  the Apaven company.

On November 27, RA Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan announced that  Armenia plans to discuss within the EAEU the problem of cargo  supplies from Armenia to Russia through the Upper Lars checkpoint on  the Georgian-Russian border. "We are studying the materials of  Rosselkhoznadzor to understand to what extent the products of our  businessmen do not comply with the current sanitary standards in  Russia. We have convened a meeting within the EAEU, which will take  place within two days," Kerobyan noted.

The minister emphasized that it is surprising that during the whole  year 35 trucks were returned from the border, and in the last two  days alone this number has already exceeded 40 trucks.  According to  him, the Armenian side and their Russian colleagues will try to  understand what has changed in regulation, which led to tightening of  supervision. At the same time, Kerobyan admitted that the current  situation may become a reason for Armenian producers to reconsider  export directions and search for new markets.

On November 26, Rosselkhoznadzor expressed concern about violations  in the supply of plant products from Armenia. According to the  department, in 2023, territorial departments of Rosselkhoznadzor  identified 72 cases of detection of harmful organisms in flower and  fruit and vegetable products coming from Armenia. In particular, on  November 24-26, 36 cases of contaminated flowers, cucumbers, dried  fruits, grapes, cauliflower, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, apples,  and pears being imported into Russia were identified, accompanied by  phytosanitary certificates issued by the Armenian safety inspection  body food products. Rosselkhoznadzor sent an official letter to  Armenia with a request to immediately take comprehensive measures to  prevent shipments of contaminated products to Russia and to inform  the Russian department about the work carried out.

As a result of the actions of the Russian side, over 1 thousand  trucks accumulated on the Russian section of the Georgian-Russian  border, some of which began to return.