Sanctions Are Armenia's Red Line, and We Make This Very Clear to Russia - Pashinyan

Following the events in Ukraine, logistics chains for cargo transportation have been disrupted or are not functioning. Many goods that were directly supplied to Russia are now routed through Armenia, Kazakhstan, and other countries.

As reported by Armenpress, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made this statement in an interview with the Czech magazine Respekt, addressing the issue of sanctions imposed against Russia in the context of increased exports from Armenia to Russia.

"For example, beverages that are not subject to sanctions pose no problem. Until February 2022, they were transported through Poland and Belarus; now they are coming through Armenia. It's not just about a change in routes, as many European carriers refuse to cooperate directly with the Russian market. And Russian carriers cannot transport them to Poland. Thus, entirely new logistics routes have been established, including those passing through Armenia. However, regarding goods under sanctions, we are trying to be as transparent as possible, collaborating with the EU, the USA, and even Russia itself. We are a member of the EAEU and have very close economic ties with Russia, and Armenian businesses are keen to participate in the projects that have been created recently. Where there is available space, we gladly meet Russian demand. Sanctions are our red line. And we make this very clear to the Russians: we do not want to harm you, but we cannot allow ourselves to be caught under sanctions. There is no secret in this," Pashinyan emphasized.