Armenia has banned the import of tomato paste against the backdrop of export restrictions from Russia.

The import of tomato paste is limited from the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan criticized the work of the EAEU the day before, on July 29. He stated that the restrictions on the supply of Armenian goods to Russia indicate a de facto paralysis of the union, and noted that the unresolved issue could become the "beginning of the end" for the EAEU.

A six-month ban on the import of tomato paste to Armenia has been introduced, including from EAEU countries. "Thus, the sales volumes of locally produced tomato paste will increase, demand for tomatoes will rise, which will ensure the full procurement of the harvest intended for processing," the justification for the decision, made at today's meeting of the Armenian government, states.

The decision notes that due to restrictions on the export and transit of quarantine products of Armenian origin from Armenia to Russia, the volumes of export of fruits and vegetables of Armenian origin, including greenhouse tomatoes, have decreased. As a result, a significant portion of exported greenhouse tomatoes is currently sold on the local market, leading to a decrease in demand for field-grown tomatoes, the government report cites News.am.

From the introduction of restrictions on tomato exports, from May 22 to July 22, the volume of exported greenhouse tomatoes amounted to only about 800 tons, while during the same period last year, about 7000 tons of tomatoes were exported, all to EAEU member countries, noted the Armenian government.

According to Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan, Armenia is seeking to lift restrictions on the supply of its goods to Russia, as their maintenance contradicts the principles of the EAEU. "If this is not ensured, then the legislation of the EAEU and the principles on which it was created do not work. We want the EAEU to exist and function, not to operate, for example, like the CSTO," the minister's words are quoted by Armenia Today.

Russia imposed restrictions on imports from Armenia before the parliamentary elections held on June 7, in which pro-Russian forces also participated. The "Civil Contract" party, led by the current Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, won the elections to the country's parliament. Commenting on its victory, Pashinyan stated that the three-headed war party has been defeated (referring to the "Strong Armenia" bloc, the "Armenia" bloc, and the "Prosperous Armenia" party).