Shock Message from Moscow to Yerevan: What Developments Await

The Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance of Russia (Rosselkhoznadzor) has temporarily banned the import of freshly cut flowers from Armenia into the country starting from May 22. The agency informed the relevant Armenian authorities about this decision through an official letter. The Russian side justifies the restriction by the frequent detection of quarantine pests in the products.

According to published data, around 39 million cut flowers have been exported from Armenia to Russia since the beginning of 2026. In these shipments, the Russian side has recorded 135 cases of quarantine objects. Specifically, in 133 cases, western flower thrips (California thrips) were detected, while in the remaining two instances, citrus black flies and tobacco whiteflies were found.

Rosselkhoznadzor expressed concerns in its letter, stating that this indicates insufficient control on the part of Armenia.

The Russian agency emphasizes that western flower thrips is considered a dangerous quarantine pest for the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), posing a significant threat to greenhouse enterprises. It not only damages plants and reduces yields but also serves as a carrier of various viral diseases, which can lead to substantial losses or complete destruction of agricultural crops.