Georgia bans import of large batch of flowers from Armenia

ArmInfo. Georgia has banned the import of a large batch of seasonal flowers from Armenia, totaling 10,000 flowers. This was reported by the Armenian service of Radio Liberty  with reference to the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia.

According to the official statement, during inspections at the  Sadakhlo checkpoint on the Georgian- Armenian border, Georgian customs officers .

, the Georgian side stated, adding that would be returned to Armenia.

Armenia is the second largest supplier of flowers to Georgia after Ecuador; in the first four months of this year alone, according to Georgian sources, flowers worth $1.3 million were imported from Armenia to this country.

Armenian cognac and wine exporters have been complaining for over a month about "inappropriate checks and obstacles" in Georgia, which is why trucks bound for Russia and other countries are stuck at Georgian customs posts for weeks.

The Armenian Economy Minister had previously said that he would discuss the issue during the visit of the Georgian Agriculture Minister to Yerevan on June 6. However, the Georgian side cancelled the visit a day earlier, citing the minister's heavy workload.

The Georgian side had previously stated that the controls carried out at customs posts comply with the country's legislation and international standards. Armenian businessmen insist that such checks have not taken place for several decades. Neither Tbilisi nor Yerevan has yet explained what has changed in bilateral relations.