After the European Union (EU) initiated sanctions against Russia in 2022, there has been a significant increase in Armenia’s trade turnover with Russia. Thus, the root of this growth lies in the fact that Armenia sells the products it buys from the European Union to Russia.
Peter Stano, the European Union’s press secretary for foreign policy and security affairs, told “Report” that the European Union is closely monitoring the trade flow of sanctioned goods from the EU to third countries and from third countries, including from Armenia to Russia.
He stressed that they call on all countries to comply with these sanctions as part of their activities to support Ukraine.
“The European Union has imposed a series of far-reaching sanctions on Russia due to its illegal war against Ukraine. As part of our support for Ukraine, we have called on all countries to adopt similar national measures or at least not allow any evasion (or violation).”
P. Stano noted that preventing sanctions violations is very important in terms of effectively reducing Russia’s technological and financial capabilities in the war against Ukraine:
“This is especially important in terms of our sanctions on the most sensitive goods used in Russian military systems. We are therefore closely monitoring the trade flow of sanctioned goods from the European Union to third countries and from third countries, including Armenia, to Russia. We are also stepping up our efforts to prevent such situations, for example, we are intensifying diplomatic relations with countries that play the role of a platform to prevent the passage of sanctioned goods from the EU to Russia through third countries.”
On the other hand, there are good reasons to effectively ignore European sanctions. As proof of this, we can pay attention to the posts of Robin Brooks, a leading specialist at the Brookings Institute, on social networks. The charts of these actions also reflect the sharp increase in trade turnover between Armenia and the countries of the European Union.
Expert economist Vugar Bayramli told “Report” that Western circles have a double approach to the trade flow of sanctioned products from Armenia to Russia: they show a pro-Armenian position and turn a blind eye to Armenia’s re-exports:
“After the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war, there has been a sharp increase in Armenia’s foreign trade turnover. The sharp increase in both exports and imports with Russia indicates that a number of products that Russia needs are actually being re-exported through Armenia.”
According to him, in accordance with the philosophy of the European Union and the United States, sanctions should also be applied to Armenia:
“Although this issue is discussed in many different circles. For example, this issue was discussed at the Euronest interparliamentary meeting of the European Parliament and a special presentation was made by foreign experts. Unfortunately, official circles in Europe and the West turn a blind eye. “The attention to this issue is, in fact, pro-Armenian. This indicates the presence of a position and double standards. While the West should impose sanctions against Armenia by its own standards, we observe the West’s support for Armenia.”
V. Bayramli noted that Azerbaijani NGOs have submitted a reasoned appeal in this regard:
“The application contains figures on changes in foreign trade turnover over the years, as well as changes in trade turnover between Armenia and Russia after the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine, clearly confirm that Armenia has allowed Russia to avoid international sanctions by re-exporting. Let us hope that Western circles will take this call seriously and impartially investigate and implement sanctions against Armenia.”
