Armenia is convening an emergency session within the Eurasian Economic Union to address cargoes that Russia has refused at the Upper Lars checkpoint. The development was reported by a news agency citing Armenian officials and the minister of economy, Vahan Kerobyan.
Officials have said they are reviewing documentation from Rosselkhoznadzor to determine how often Armenian products fail to meet current Russian standards. It is noted that a puzzling pattern emerged: 35 trucks were sent back a year ago, and two days later another 35 were returned, despite no observable change in the quality of the goods. Kerobyan announced that the matter would be discussed in an emergency EAEU meeting scheduled to occur within two days, signaling concern over the reliability of cross-border trade processes and regulatory alignment.
Separately, Nikolay Silaev, a research fellow at the MGIMO Center for Caucasus Problems and Regional Security, argued that Armenia often appears to strain its relations with Russia. This assessment adds context to the public narrative around trade frictions and strategic diplomacy in the region.
Yerevan has reiterated that it does not intend to leave the CSTO, CIS, or EAEU, underscoring a commitment to existing regional and security frameworks. Silaev suggested several possible reasons for what he described as strong anti-Russian rhetoric by Armenian officials, noting Russia’s efforts to pursue closer ties with Western partners and to secure new preferences through broader outreach.
In parallel commentary, Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, has pointed out that Western countries actively courting Armenia appear to seek closer alignment with the republic, positioning Armenia within a broader geopolitical context that includes Western interests alongside its traditional partners. The situation highlights a delicate balance for Armenia as it navigates relations with Moscow while engaging with Western actors and markets in North America and abroad.