Hraparak reported on German pressure on Pashinyan to enforce sanctions

Under pressure from Germany, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan demanded that Armenian departments strictly observe anti-Russian restrictions and close loopholes for parallel exports to RUSSIA,approves the editionNikol PashinyanNikol PashinyanNikol PashinyanNikol PashinyanNikol Pashinyan

During the visit of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to Berlin, he was given "persistent warnings" about the need to close parallel imports to Russia, the Armenian edition of Hraparak claims, citing anonymous sources.

Pashinyan's visit to Berlin took place in early March.

Hraparak’s sources claim that after returning from Berlin, Pashinyan invited the HEAD of the country’s Central Bank, members of the government and the head of the State Revenue Committee, which plays the role of a customs and tax service in Armenia, to a conversation and instructed them to block the channels for circumventing anti-Russian sanctions.

“We were told that even at the airport they have established strict controls so that passengers do not carry the chips necessary for the it sector in luggage and accessories with which they fly to Russia,” the newspaper writes.

In 2021, the trade turnover between Russia and Armenia, according to the Armenian National Statistical Service, amounted to $2.6 billion (an increase of 20.9% compared to 2020). In 2022, when sanctions were tightened against Russia , in the period from January to October it reached $3.8 billion, Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan reported. 

During the final press conference after the meeting of the Armenian Prime Minister and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, among the questions asked by journalists was the question of Yerevan's participation in parallel imports to Russia.

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“As for the talk about circumventing sanctions, I must emphasize that this is nothing more than talk. The reality is exactly the opposite, and I will give you an example: in the spring of last year, a Western owner took an aircraft used by one of the Russian airlines from Armenia. This, I think, is the most direct and clear example by which we have shown that while respecting all our relations, all our partners, the rule of law is of fundamental importance for us. And I don’t think that, given this example, Armenia can be accused of shadowy actions,” Pashinyan replied. And he stressed that Yerevan has to closely monitor the situation and help the private sector in order not to "spoil our relations with any of our partners."

Chancellor Scholz noted that the issue of circumventing sanctions through Armenia was discussed with Pashinyan.

In mid-March, after Pashinyan’s visit to Berlin, BLOOMBERG, citing sources, reported that the European Union intends to tighten control over the implementation of sanctions by states that have sharply increased the re-export of advanced technologies and other goods purchased in Europe to Russia.