Pashinyan: Export market diversification should remain Armenia’s strategy regardless of Russia’s restrictions

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Thursday that Armenia should continue diversifying its export markets even if Russia lifts restrictions on imports of Armenian goods.

“I think that even if all problems within the Eurasian Economic Union are resolved, diversification should become our strategy,” he said at a Cabinet meeting.

“Regardless of everything, we should not deviate from this direction. But we should note with satisfaction that, of course, there was and is a problem, but on the other hand, we see that thanks to joint government-private sector efforts, this problem is being managed,” the Armenian prime minister said.

Russia imposed restrictions on imports of various goods from Armenia starting in early June 2026, and the restrictions remain in place to date, prompting the Armenian government to take steps to diversify export markets.

The Council of the EU earlier on September 2 agreed to introduce temporary trade-liberalization measures for Armenian products to support Armenia's economy following trade restrictions imposed by Russia.

These measures will liberalize around 80% of Armenian exports to the EU.