Armenian Ambassador to Russia and Union of Russian Armenians Negotiate with "Food City" Owners Amid Tensions Between Armenians and Azerbaijanis in the Market

MP Naira Zohrabyan from the "Prosperous Armenia" faction commented on the rising tensions between Armenians and Azerbaijanis in Moscow's agricultural market on her Facebook page. She specifically mentioned that both the Armenian Ambassador to Russia and the Union of Russian Armenians have established contact with the owners of Moscow's "Food City" market, conducted negotiations, and she hopes that the issue will be resolved conclusively.

Her post reads: "We are an extraordinary people. As you know, a serious problem emerged over the past two days in various cities in Russia, particularly in Moscow's agricultural market. The Azerbaijani mafia in Russia was doing everything possible to obstruct and prevent our compatriots from selling agricultural products brought from Armenia in the Russian markets. The most significant issue arose in Moscow's "Food City" wholesale market, where Armenian-registered trucks laden with agricultural products, particularly apricots, had been parked for two days.

Yesterday, when many of us called on our compatriots living in Russia to assist by going directly to the trucks to buy Armenian agricultural products, an incredible phenomenon occurred. Our compatriots living in Russia, upon learning about the problem, traveled hundreds of kilometers to various cities—Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, Voronezh, and other agricultural markets—where Azerbaijanis had reached agreements with market owners to create various artificial obstacles, preventing our trucks from entering market territories. Within hours, our compatriots in Russia bought the apricots and other agricultural products brought from Armenia.

Throughout the night, I received calls from our compatriots living in different Russian cities who expressed their readiness to purchase large quantities of apricots. They asked for contacts of the truck drivers and farmers who transported the goods from Armenia, so they could immediately buy the agricultural products, especially the apricots, which were at risk of spoiling within another day.

It was truly moving to witness such unprecedented unity, and I want to express my deepest gratitude to all our compatriots living in Russia who united like one person and traveled even 100-200 kilometers from Moscow to reach the "Food City" market and assist their Armenian compatriots.

This was a battle too, and in this battle, we also emerged victorious. I just learned that both the Armenian Ambassador to Russia and the Union of Russian Armenians have contacted the owners of the "Food City" market and have held negotiations, hoping that the issue will finally be resolved. I extend my gratitude to all our compatriots living in Russia who, responding to the call, showed an unprecedented example of patriotism by coming together as one fist."